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The best and worst comic book movies of 2009 (and your chance to vote)
2 hours ago
On a recent edition of TV review show Film 2009, presenter Jonathan Ross bizarrely (and erroneously) bemoaned the lack of superhero films this year.
Well, 2008 may have had two blockbusters in the form of Iron Man and the headline-dominating entity that was The Dark Knight but this year certainly hasn't been devoid of superheroes on the screen or, more broadly, comic book movie adaptations.
We've had Watchmen and Wolverine along with a few other titles derived from lesser-known comics, not to mention several big movies that have also crossed over into the comic book realm through printed prequels and tie-ins.
So, let's take a look at this year's comic book movies - and then you get a chance to vote for the one you thought was the worst of the bunch.
First, the films whose characters and/or stories were derived from comics:
Watchmen
(Based on Alan Moore's comic series …
- David Bentley
Avatar opens with $242million worldwide, 3D screenings draw massive crowds
3 hours ago
Avatar has brought in $242.5million (£151million) worldwide on its opening weekend, according to latest figures, making it the largest global launch for a non-sequel.
The total is made up of $77million (£48million) in North America and $165.5million (£103million) from the rest of the world.
The overseas revenue narrowly beat the previous No1 performer Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen ($165million).
3D screenings - including IMAX - provided 71 per cent of the film's North American ticket sales and 56 per cent of overseas box office takings.
The top film to open in December is I Am Legend. Avatar beat Lord of the Rings: Return of the King to take second place in that chart.
Overall, it was a strong debut for the film, considering the snow that swept the UK, continental Europe and America's East Coast and kept many viewers away.
According to Variety, studio insiders say Avatar cost $310million (£192million), which is …
- David Bentley
More details emerge on tragic death of Brittany Murphy
10 hours ago
Los Angeles County Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter has said the death of Sin City actress Brittany Murphy appeared to be "natural" but the results of detailed tests won't be known for several weeks.
The 32-year-old star was yesterday found unconscious in the shower by her mother. Medics said she had gone into cardiac arrest and she was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital. There were no signs of foul play or trauma, said police.
Mr Winter, pictured above being interviewed outside Murphy's Hollywood Hills residence, told a press conference: "It appears to be natural at this time. We do understand she had a bit of medical history."
Reports claim Murphy suffered from asthma and diabetes as well as a heart condition that began in childhood. It's also been reported that prescription drugs were found in the house, which she shared with her British screenwriter husband Simon Monjack, but that no illegal drugs were found. …
- David Bentley
Avatar's science fiction world may soon be science fact
12 hours ago
Habitable alien moons like the one depicted in the blockbuster movie Avatar may become science fact within the next few years, according to a leading astronomer.
In the 3D film, a 10ft tall race of blue-skinned humanoids lives on an Earth-like moon called Pandora. Their world orbits a gas giant planet similar to Jupiter that cannot support life.
Us astronomer and planet-hunter Lisa Kaltenegger, from the Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Massachusetts, believes there is every chance a real-life version of Pandora exists and will soon be found, as depicted in the artist's impression above.
She has conducted research showing that a planned new space telescope will be able to identify nearby "exomoons" and discover if they are habitable. The American space agency Nasa's James Webb Space Telescope (Jwst) is due to be launched in 2014.
Dr Kaltenegger said: "If Pandora existed, we potentially could detect it and study its atmosphere in the next decade. …
- David Bentley
Bernard Cribbins talks Doctor Who special - and nearly playing a Time Lord
13 hours ago
Veteran entertainer Bernard Cribbins reprises his role as Wilfred Mott in David Tennant's upcoming final Doctor Who episodes.
Cribbins, who turns 81 on December 29, can be seen in two-parter The End Of Time on Christmas Day and New Year's Day on BBC1.
Here's what he had to say:
How Does It Feel To Play The Doctor's Latest Glamorous Assistant?
I think I was far too good-looking for it - and too tall and all those things. But it was great fun, and I was delighted when I was told I would be the companion for these last few episodes. Terrific.
It's The End Of An Era For The Current Doctor Who. How Much Can You Reveal About The Christmas Two-parter?
I honestly, and I mean this sincerely, can't reveal anything because I didn't have the pages. They didn't give me the last three or four pages, because they knew I'm …
- David Bentley
Eddie Izzard on his role in TV remake of The Day of the Triffids
16 hours ago
Among the stars of the BBC's upcoming remake of The Day of the Triffids is the comedian and actor Eddie Izzard.
Izzard, now 47, made a relatively late screen debut in Damien Hirst's 1996 short film Hanging Around and is the first to admit he hasn't received any formal acting training.
He considers his starring role on the American TV series The Riches as his "drama school". The Hollywood writers' strike in 2007 and 2008 halted filming and despite the series' success, it was never picked up again once the strike ended so Izzard is hoping to do a film version instead.
Although he made his name in stand-up, Izzard says he prefers "really gritty, interesting dramas" and if good film roles don't arise, he'll do TV roles instead.
And that's why he agreed to appear as the "charismatic sociopath" Torrence in two-part futuristic drama The Day of the Triffids, to be screened …
- David Bentley
Sin City actress Brittany Murphy dies at age 32
19 hours ago
Hollywood actress Brittany Murphy has died at the age of 32 after going into cardiac arrest, it's been confirmed.
Among her many roles, Murphy played sex-siren barmaid Shellie in 2005's Sin City, adapted from a graphic novel by Frank Miller. It also starred Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke, Clive Owen and Jessica Alba.
News of Murphy's death emerged following an emergency call earlier today from the Los Angeles home where she lived with her husband, British screenwriter Simon Monjack, whom she wed in 2007.
Murphy, who also starred in Clueless and 8 Mile, was said to have been found slumped unconscious in the shower.
She had reportedly suffered cardiac arrest, meaning her heart had suddenly stopped functioning. Medics failed to revive her and she was taken to Cedar-Sinai Medical Centre where she was pronounced dead on arrival.
The actress was recently reported to have been fired from the Puerto Rico film set of thriller The Caller for 'difficult' behaviour, …
- David Bentley
Marvel 'considering filming Captain America in UK'
20 December 2009 5:17 PM, PST
With Iron Man 2 set for release next May and Kenneth Branagh's Thor ready to start filming in January, Marvel's next superhero project to get off the ground will be The First Avenger: Captain America.
A year after the film comes out in 2011, the stars-and-stripes supersoldier will go on to appear in team-up film The Avengers.
Director Joe Johnston recently joined the Captain America project after finishing work on horror remake The Wolfman, due out in February. No casting has been announced yet, though fans (and The Geek Files itself) have been putting forward lists of possible contenders.
But could it be filmed in the UK?...
In the latest tidbit, California-based props maker Independent Studio Services has hinted that the movie will be shot in Britain.
The company's owner/operator Gregg Bilson Jr tweeted: "Marvel films is considering filming Captain America in the UK, Wtf!"
Actually, it's not such a 'Wtf! …
- David Bentley
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