Pathfinder Movie Gives New Twist to the Western

These are stills from the movie Pathfinder starring Karl Urban, the actor who played Rohan warrior Eomer in the "Lord of the Rings." Here, he is a Viking raised by North American Indians when he was left behind by his Viking guardians in a raid on a small patch of the New World long before Cristopher Columbus's time. The stills from the movie is dramatic and somehow reminiscent of the movie "The Thirtienth Warrior" starring Antonio Banderas. The theme reminds us of many Westerns like "A Man Called Horse" and "Dances with Wolves" where the white protagonist anti-hero is adopted into a Navite American culture and fights alongside them against his own blood.

The World's Tallest Man Gets a Bride

This is the world's tallest man 7'9" Bao Xishun with is new bride 5'6" Xia Shujian. Congratulations to them! Bao is officially recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Cover Revealed

This is the front of the wraparound cover of the latest and last Harry Potter book by J. K. Rowling. It is designed by veteran Potter illustrator Mary GrandPre. An fiery overcast sky, indistinct figures in the background, and structures suggesting ruins are distinct in the background. What could they mean in relation to the story?

At the Heart of Heart of an Empire

This is the touching poster of the movie Heart of an Empire. Hmm. What do you think? Is the girl happy or scared to see the stormtrooper?

Check these photos taken during the unveiling of the poster of the Star Wars-inspired drama documentary movie. Now I know what the stormtrooper guys really look like underneath that white plastic helmet. And who wouldn't want a producer who looks like a squid?

Army of R2D2s Invade the United States

What's this? An army of Star Wars R2D2 clones? No. They're really mailboxes made up like the cute droid. They are scattered all over America to mark the 30th anniversary of George Lucas's cult film this year. Coincidentally (or on purpose), a Star Wars-inspired movie, "Heart of an Empire" also comes to the big screen. It is about a group of people doing charity work like visiting children's hospitals while dressed up as Empire stormtroopers. When the amputee-founder's daughter is diagnosed with cancer, the stormtroopers becomes her support group. This is actually a documentary on Albin Johnson's Fighting 501st Legion. The group's intentions are noble and the way they are depicted in the movie is heartwarming, but this picture of Darth Vader looming over a sick kid makes you think, "What's he saying to her? 'Join me and we'll rule the galaxy together'?"

Stardust Graphic Novel Now a Movie

What do you get when you combine the genres of fairy tale, romance, and science fiction? You get the movie Stardust. Never heard of it? Well, it's actually based on a graphic novel by Neil Gaiman (famous for the "Sandman" graphic novel series) and illustrator Charles Vess.

In it, our hero Tristan falls for a girl named Victoria. But she's cold to him. To win her heart, he goes on a quest to retrieve a fallen star. The problem is that he's not the only one who's after it---four princes, three ghosts, and the witch Lamia. The problem of our hero is complicated by the fact that he has to go through a pirate and a shady trader by the name of Ferdy the Fence. Along the way, he discovers that the star is actually a pretty girl. So who does he fall for now?

Hmm. Powerful goats. Might not be very fast, though.

Tolkien's Children of Hurin to Be Released

J. R. R. Tolkien, the author of the Lord of the Rings series has a new novel to be released in April 2007. What? You say Tolkien's dead? Well, that may be true, but his spirit and creativity lives on in his son, Christopher Tolkien, who has painstakingly pieced together drafts of the formerly unfinished novel. Different takes of the story of the children of Hurin have been published before:

1977 in The Silmarillion as "Of Túrin Turambar" (prose).

1980 in Unfinished Tales as "Narn i Hîn Húrin" (prose).

1984 in The Book of Lost Tales, Part II as "Turambar and the Foalókë," and "The Nauglafring" (prose).

1985 in The Lays of Beleriand as "The Lay of the Children of Húrin" (verse).

1994 in The War of the Jewels as "The Wanderings of Húrin" (prose).

These versions have now come together in the book. It is not the first time that the younger Tolkien has edited his father's work. In 1977, the "The Silmarillon" was released with the help of his editing input.

The official Lord of the Rings movies Frodo plush. There's more than one way to get your own Hobbit, and buying this superb stuffed toy is one of the best! Click here or on the image to order your own Lord of the Rings Frodo Plush.

Spider-man 3 Showing on May 1 in the Philippines

As you can see in the picture, Spider-man's "black" in action! The much-awaited Spider-man 3 will debut in the Philippines and other countries in Asia on May 1, three days ahead of the opening in the United States. So, all you people who want to spoil the story for those in the West can post the twists over the Internet. But you wouldn't do that now, would you?

Racy Pictures from Grindhouse

Here are more pictures from Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez's Grindhouse. Tarantino says as he pours a glass of liquor, "C'mon. You know you want to see them."

Yeah, right. What's he doing in the bottom picture, anyway? Using a girl as a tripod?

Grindhouse Movie Promises Fresh Yet Classic Treats

Grindhouse is a B-movie of B-movies. But it's a slick one, and something that audiences may want to experience for the sheer thrill of it. And it's not just one thrill, but two! Yes, it's two movies in one, both independently directed by no qualms directors Robert Rodriguez of "Desperado" fame and Quentin Tarantino of the "Kill Bill" movies. Rodriguez's opus in the movie is "Planet Terror," a world that is earilly similar to ours but twisted in many psychologically delectable ways. Tarantino's segment is titled "Death Proof" which is about a killer who uses his pimped-up car as a weapon to hunt his victims.

So, what's a jaded audience to see in this movie that seems to be fill of old Hollywood cliches? Well, look at some of these promotional posters and see if you won't be tempted to see how it turns something old fresh and, well, worth the price of a theater ticket for a much deserved escape from reality. At any rate, you'll know why it's titled "Grindhouse." More Grindhouse pictures in the next post.

Resident Evil: Extinction Cast Gets Military Getup

What's happened to the skimpy outfits of video game vixens adapted for the big screen? Here we have two publicity photos of the heroines of Resident Evil: Extinction. Milla Jovovich goes for Gurkha blades and shorts while Ali Larter keeps her pistol and shades.

It seems most of the fighting this time will take place in desolate areas, unlike in the previous movies that had an urban setting. Of course, its the Umbrella organization that still keeps our heroines fighting for their lives.

Pirates of the Carribean Go Oriental

These are a couple of publicity photos from Walt Disney Pictures "Pirates of the Carribean: At World's End." Yes, the cast, led by Johnny Depp, is going oriental this time around.

John Cusack Adopts Martian

This is a scene from the movie Martian Child starring John Cusack. In the film, Cusack's character, a widowed science fiction writer, adopts a child who believes he is from Mars. In a series of events, the child leads his new guardians to believe that he really is a Martian. Look at the picture. What do you think? Maybe he's the Martian Manhunter in disguise.

"How to Enhance Children's Imagination of the Past When Teaching History"

A Lois Lane Movie Soon?

Kate Bosworth reportedly has revealed that her role as Lois Lane (pictured here) in the next Superman movie will be much pivotal. She said "Lois will be back bigger and better in the next movie, and with more of her own storyline." Rumor has it that there are now plans for a Lois Lane movie. But what's the real scoop? Maybe reporter Lois Lane can tell us.

Justice League of America Movie in the Works

Warner Bros. studios have decided to push through with a Justice League of America movie which may showcase some of DC comics' greatest superheroes like Superman, Aquaman, and the Green Lantern. The hired scribes are Kiernan and Michele Mulroney---hot names in Hollywood these days. The movie is seen as and answer to the screen adaptation of Marvel comics' The Fantastic Four. Word has it that Brandon Routh will reprise his role as Superman. Unfortunately, the appearance of Batman is still shrouded in shadows. As always, you never can tell when he'll appear or who can play him in this movie.

Pictured above is a composite of characters from the Superman Fan Art site. It is the result of compositing a individual characters from a variety of pictures to create a Justice League group photo.

How Gerard Butler Got Spartan Abs in 300

This is Gerard Butler, aka King Leonidas of Sparta in the movie “300.” Yes, he’s the one up front in the picture above. Full of computer-generated imagery, one would think that his abs in the Frank Miller-novel-inspired blockbuster movie about the Battle of Thermopylae were the result of an artist’s skill in image manipulation software. But, no. Butler actually worked out to have those abs. “I knew to get that extreme power, and exude that authority and leadership and that potential violence and brutality, that I wanted to earn that,” said Butler, who played the title role in 2004’s “The Phantom of the Opera.”

Butler began his intense workout four months before a boot camp which allowed him to experience a Spartan warrior’s life. He maintained the program throughout the 60-day shoot. A memorable experience for him was the bear crawl in which he had to race with fellow actors on hands and feet after grueling squats. He injured his hip flexor muscle in the process. The workout program that he went through is now known as the Spartan workout.

Director Zack Snyder says, “You don’t look at a bunch of Spartans and go, “I wonder which guy is going to pop out and be the king. In one shot you want to go, ‘OK, that’s him,’ and that was how I felt about Gerry.”

For a look at the “Spartan training” of Butler, go to http://300themovie.warnerbros.com/ and open Making of 300 > Video Journals > 3. Spartan Training.

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Find it hard to get Spartan abs? Then get the next best thing. Buy the Leonidas talking ab action figure! It talks: "Tonight, we dine in hell!" It's enough of a reminder for you not to eat too much.

"How to Enhance Children's Imagination of the Past When Teaching History"