April 2011 Archives

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EAGLE-eyed movie fans who bothered sitting through the credits of Iron Man 2 were rewarded with a tantalising glimpse of Marvel Comics' next superhero film, Thor.

As well as sharing a few cast members, like Clark Gregg as an FBI agent and an uncredited Samuel L Jackson as Nick Fury (who you'll only see if you hang on to the end of Thor), the two movies feel very much alike.

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BROODING teen heartthrob Robert Pattinson, who plays a tough vampire in the Twilight movies, has revealed he has a phobia - of CLOWNS.

The phobia began when the actor saw one burn to death as a child. "The first time I went to the circus somebody died," Pattinson (pictured)said.

"One of the clowns died. His little car exploded. Everybody ran out. It was terrifying."

The Twilight star shares his phobia with fellow actor Jonny Depp.

Only just got around to seeing this surprisingly good, old fashioned action fest.

But just who out of Stallone, Willis et al has killed the most people throughout his career?

Click on the image to embiggen.

If you are looking for something to do with the kids this Easter then the IMAX are showing the latest Disney animation Mars Needs Mums - I saw the trailer a few months ago and it looked very good.

"Take out the trash, eat your broccoli"--who needs moms, anyway? Nine-year-old Milo (Seth Green) finds out just how much he needs his mom (Joan Cusack) when she's nabbed by Martians who plan to steal her mom-ness for their own young.

Produced by the team behind Disney's A Christmas Carol and The Polar Express, Mars Needs Moms chronicles Milo's quest to save his mom--a wild adventure in Disney Digital 3D™ and IMAX® 3D that involves stowing away on a spaceship, navigating an elaborate, multi-level planet and taking on the alien nation and its leader (Mindy Sterling).

With the help of a tech-savvy, underground earthman named Gribble (Dan Fogler) and a rebel Martian girl called Ki (Elisabeth Harnois), Milo just might find his way back to his mom--in more ways than one.

http://Disney.com/MarsNeedsMoms

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CELEBRITY comic book fans Jonathan Ross, Frankie Boyle and Stewart Lee thrilled guests at Kapow! Comic's inaugural convention yesterday.

They were among 5,000 guests treated to exclusive film and television previews, merchandising stalls and panels featuring comic book writers and artists.

Stars including cast members from Channel 4's Misfits and Brummie comedian Stewart Lee were all on hand for book signings at Islington's Business Design Centre.

ORGANISERS of a big science fiction convention in Birmingham are hot under the collar ... about SEX.

A panel of experts will discuss the hot topic during the Illustrious event at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole hotel.

"There is plenty of bad sex in science fiction and there's plenty of titillation for men and women alike," say the organisers.

"But over and above all that, there is a lot of thoughtful fiction about sex and what we humans do about it.

"Our panel will take a look at how science fiction uses sex to give us a sense of wonder."

The event runs at the NEC site hotel from April 22 to 25.

A very current classic

The Battle of Algiers is a film based around the French occupation of Algeria and follows a group of revolutionaries and their fight for freedom of the capital city Algiers. It also balances the story by showing the French side of the story. We travel with the group as they use terrorism to make their point and battle against the French control of their country and we see the tactics implemented by the army.

The film is intense to sum in one word, it's also as current now as it was when made. With the uprising in the middle east at present this film shows the plight of the small against the mighty.

Shot in a documentary style in gritty black and white this shows a true side to war and occupation and reveals some hard to watch moments of the extremes these guys and girls went through to be heard.

If you like tense classic films then I'd have a watch, this is regarded as an important film for democracy the world over so if you are interested in current affairs I'd give it a go also. It is however subtitled and contains some pretty graphic scenes so not for the faint hearted!

IMDB Fact: In 2003, the New York Times reported that the Pentagon screened this film for officers and civilian experts who were discussing the challenges faced by the US military forces in Iraq. The flier inviting guests to the screening read: "How to win a battle against terrorism and lose the war of ideas".

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Noomi Rapace had a ball filming Sherlock Holmes 2 with Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law.

The actress, who starred in the Swedish version of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo film trilogy, enjoyed the change of atmosphere in Guy Ritchie's action sequel, titled Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows.

"(It was) good, we had so much fun with both guys, Robert and Jude. It kind of felt like we were playing - it was very playful, and easy and fun," she revealed.

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HOLLYWOOD star Martin Sheen says his troubled son Charlie's struggle with addiction is "as dangerous as cancer".

In an interview with Desert Island Discs on Radio 4, the West Wing actor described his son's ongoing battles with his demons as a "rollercoaster ride".

The Platoon star's career has been in meltdown after he was axed from his lucrative role in hit TV show Two And A Half Men last month over his drug and alcohol problems.

His 70 year-old dad said: "Charlie is dealing with the most profound problems and addiction - there's no secret, his behaviour has been an example of that.

"So if he had cancer, how would we deal with him? Well, he has another disease and it's equally as dangerous as cancer. And so we lift him up, we pray for him and be present for him and try to lead him as much as we can.

"But he's an adult and he needs a lot of help on a lot of different levels."

Martin Sheen, whose film roles have included Apocalypse Now and Badlands, has had his own battles with drink and has been a member of Alcoholics Anonymous since the mid-1980s.