Wilde letters are sold at auction

A small but revealing group of letters written by the playwright Oscar Wilde are sold at auction in Derby.

US singer Eddie Fisher dies at 82

US singer Eddie Fisher, who sold millions of records in the 50s and was married to Elizabeth Taylor and Debbie Reynolds, dies at 82.

No shoes required: Hobbit film seeks short actors

A casting call is issued for diminutive actors in New Zealand, as director Peter Jackson’s production company forges ahead with plans to film The Hobbit.

‘Hatchet II’ Joins These Controversial Films with Rare Theatrical Release

Filed under: , , , , , , , , ,

This month marks the 20th anniversary of the NC-17 rating, invented by the MPAA to separate certain graphic yet non-pornographic films from the seedy connotations of the X rating. But the new classification immediately had its own stigma and many theater chains and video stores wouldn’t carry films with the NC-17 mark. So then some films that didn’t want to cut content to receive an R rating went out to cinemas unrated. Unfortunately, many chains were also unwelcome to circumvention of the MPAA. Now AMC Theatres, which has long been one of those against booking films lacking classification, is opening its screens (around 60 locations) to the horror sequel ‘Hatchet II,’ which makes this the widest opening for an unrated film in 25 years.

Of course this decision comes via the accessible horror genre rather than through something more “adult” or sex-centric like a Todd Solondz, John Waters or Harmony Korine, or even an Adrian Lyne or Paul Verhoeven. But will the erotic stuff be treated as fairly as the violent and gory? It’s assumed that following the October 1 release of ‘Hatchet II,’ the also-unrated horror release ‘I Spit on Your Grave’ will be booked in similar fashion. Then what? If the first title is successful — and I think it has a good shot at being the highest-grossing unrated film of all time — can we expect filmmakers to actually start trying to garner an NC-17 just to then go out unrated? Will films that wouldn’t even receive an NC-17 exploit the sudden approval by going unrated anyway? It could get as bad as the present situation with unrated DVD editions, which are rarely worth their ironic marketing gimmick.

After the jump lets look at some of the more notable films that were distributed unrated and see how they performed.

Continue Reading

‘Legend of the Guardians’ Screenwriter John Orloff on Creating ‘Lord of the Rings’ for Kids

Filed under: , ,

Even for the most astute or open-minded moviegoer, there are few films that share less in common with ‘A Mighty Heart’ and ‘Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole.’ And yet, both of these films were written for the screen by the same person: John Orloff. But looking more deeply at the animated film, it bears many of the same qualities, not the least of which being characters who are sympathetic, driven, and idealistic, even though one is an owl, and the other is Angelina Jolie.

Cinematical recently caught up with Orloff via telephone to discuss ‘Legend of the Guardians,’ which is being released in theaters this weekend. In addition to talking about the challenges of adapting a book about owls into a movie for human beings, he examined the logistics of bringing the characters to life for director Zack Snyder, and addressed the idea of making a movie that was faithful to the intensity of the source material, but still manages to be family-friendly enough to attract audiences of all ages.

Continue Reading

‘Nightline’ Beats Leno, Letterman In 2009-2010 Ratings

The Letterman-Leno rivalry may get the most attention, but in the past year, ABC’s “Nightline” has become the real late-night ratings champion.

Ratings for the 2009-2010 period were released Thursday, and “Nightline” emerged as the late night ratings leader for the first time in fifteen years. The news show–which ABC once seemed close to canceling–drew 3.71 million viewers, with 1.54 million in the coveted A25-54 demo.

CBS’ “The Late Show With David Letterman,” which benefited from the turmoil of the Leno-Conan O’Brien troubles at NBC, came in second. Letterman drew 3.63 million total viewers, and tied with “Nightline” in the demo.

NBC’s “The Tonight Show” beat its two rivals in the demo, with 1.65 million viewers. But it fell to third place in total viewers, with 3.5 million tuning in.

ABC News, which produces “Nightline,” celebrated the ratings news on Thursday.

“This is a very proud day for all of us at ABC News,” James Goldston, executive producer of the show, said in a statement.

Read more: David Letterman, Late Night Shows, TV Ratings, Late Show, Nightline, ABC News, Tonight Show, Jay Leno, Media News

Abbas Says Israel Must Choose Between Peace and Settlements – BusinessWeek


CBC.ca
Abbas Says Israel Must Choose Between Peace and Settlements
BusinessWeek
Sept. 26 (Bloomberg) — Israel must “choose between peace and the continuation of settlements,” Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said in a speech at the United Nations in which he pledged continued
ANALYSIS / The winner in the settlement row is NetanyahuHa’aretz
Deadline peril for Mid-East talksBBC News
US scrambles for compromise to keep direct Mideast peace talks goingLos Angeles Times
Reuters –Bloomberg –Hindustan Times
all 2,134 news articles »

Rescue capsule arrives at Chile mine

Rescuers are dubbing the cage that will be used to haul 33 trapped miners back to the surface the “Phoenix Capsule” and say they will take delivery of the first one Saturday afternoon.

Spencer Green: Shocking Revelations for Last Week of Cathy Comic Strips

– Cathy admits brief affair she had with Uncle Duke in 1970s while substituting as his interpreter in China

– Best friend Andrea leaves husband, joins biker gang, becomes property of Peppermint Patty

– Due to a printing error, newspapers ran the same exact strip from 1985 through 1999; no one noticed

– Cathy visits Rex Morgan, M.D., is diagnosed with Moebius syndrome

– Glenn Beck traces Cathy exclamation “Ack!” to early Freemason chant and Illuminati codes, links this to rise of Marxism, American Communist Party, and President Obama, noting on chalkboard that “You can’t spell Barack without ‘ack'”

– Stylist gives Cathy a different hairdo, triggering new eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland

– Irving’s love of computer golf actually a cover for his involvement in online Thai underage sex club

– Cathy is trapped by falling display case at 80 percent-off shoe sale; happily uses opportunity to cut off leg and save time dieting

– Delightful appearance by Betty White

– Whole thing was just a bad dream of Nemo in Slumberland

– Cathy becomes whistle-blower at Product Testing, Inc. after she discovers company has secretly been working for years with Cadbury, Hershey’s, Nestle, Russell Stover, and Phillip Morris to turn chocolate into nicotine delivery system

– Department of Energy uses Cathy’s whining to power several U.S. cities

– Mrs. Voorhees reveals her son Jason drowned at Camp Crystal Lake while Cathy was having sex with a counselor

– Irving’s and Cathy’s planned orgy with Hi and Lois goes terribly awry

– Cathy finds perfect swimsuit but, in freak Twilight Zone ending, can’t take it off and must wear it throughout eternity

Read more: Cathy, Newspapers, Cartoons, Comic Strips, Cathy Comic Strip, Cathy Guisewite, Cartoon, Cartoon Characters, Newspaper Comic Strips, Comedy News

Victoria Jones: Can Crazy Witch Christine Win Delaware? Maybe She Can!

I know, I know. Coons is 11 points ahead. O’Donnell’s dabbled in witchcraft. She’s said masturbation’s like adultery and mice have fully functioning human brains. Also: “Wives must graciously submit to a servant lead, and that is God’s design for the family”. (Some Republican voters will go for that.) Then there’s the Tolkien women obsession.

It was probably a smart move with some Republican voters to cancel “Fox News Sunday” and “Face the Nation” at the last minute. Church and a picnic in a county where she already has solid backing were the given reasons, not because she wasn’t prepared to go on the shows. Right. Nothing to do with midnight picnics on satanic altars.

How do crazy Christine’s issues, as she’s spoken about them and as they’ve been reported, sit with Republicans? I went to her sanitized web site, but it’s hard to get your head around the “Why Christine” page. Generic platitudes, pablum, Tea Party 101. There is NO section for education; it slides in under Values. Maybe she forgot it along with her tuition. Someone should ask her if she wants to eliminate the Department of Education. There’s a section for guns, though.

Let’s start with God. O’Donnell has said that there’s as much if not more evidence supporting creationism than evolution. As far as I know, she hasn’t supplied any (because it doesn’t exist?). Republicans agree with O’Donnell. Only 30% believe in evolution, while 60% of independents believe in evolution, according to Gallup. I don’t think independents are voting on God this year.

(Bill Clinton probably killed Vince Foster.)

Health care. O’Donnell wants to repeal the health care law. She also wants “less government meddling in the doctor/patient relationship”. (So she should love recess appointed Donald Berwick, the new head of Medicare and Medicaid, who advocates “patient-centered care” – and rationing and death!) 79% of Republicans favor repeal and 57% of non affiliated voters, so that’s a winner. Oh, she wants to create health care vouchers for veterans (no longer on her website – hmm, sounds like eliminate the Department of Veterans Affairs). Chris – that last one’s going down in flames.

(Joe Biden tapped her phone line.)

Obama’s “so liberal that he’s anti-American“! Of course he is. A Harris (online) poll found 41% of Republicans think the President’s anti-American, and 24% of Republicans think he’s the Anti-Christ. Christine O’Donnell’s in great company. Dick “the Feet” Morris thinks Obama might be anti-American, and Rep Michele (the gift that just keeps giving) Bachmann (R) MN, said in 2008 that she was very concerned Obama might have anti-American views. Now she says “I look like Nostradamus”. A voting issue? It is if Republicans vote on values.

(America is now a Socialist economy.)

Abortion. O’Donnell “strongly believes in protecting the sanctity of life at ALL stages”. She’s against abortion and stem cell research. She thinks condoms are “anti-human” and “will not protect you from AIDS”. A Gallup poll in 2009 showed the percentage of Republicans (including independents who lean Republican) calling themselves “pro-life” rose 10 points over the previous year. That’s huge. Will people vote on abortion? Some people only vote on abortion.

(It’s a misconception that you quote unquote can’t legislate morality.)

Security. No constitutional rights for terrorists or outsourcing our foreign policy to the UN. CNN polled in February after the Christmas day bombing, and 56% of respondents said the police and FBI agents should always inform suspects of their constitutional rights. 43% said not. I think O’Donnell’s on safe ground with this one. Her primary voters want to waterboard the ACLU, and she’ll probably pull in the rest of the black helicopter crowd and strong law and order voters in November.

(Women in military institutes cripple the readiness of our defense.)

Energy. Block cap and trade legislation. O’Donnell “supports a market based approach to energy solutions”. I don’t know what that means because it’s a meaningless statement. She says it will “keep competition high and energy prices low”. No mention of regulation of oil companies because – why regulate? A Pew poll in June showed that most Democrats (72%), independents (62%) and Republicans (59%) favor limits on CO2 and other emissions. She just has to keep shouting “tax” until November and she should do OK with Republicans and probably independents.

(Welfare and food stamps foster laziness and drug use.)

The question for depressed Democratic voters in Delaware is whether they’ll have the gumption to get up out of fetal positions in their basements long enough to go and vote for Coons. Maybe Elizabeth Warren will inspire them. Independents leaning Republican in Delaware have some serious thinking to do.

If she’s smart, and if Coons isn’t, Christine O’Donnell may be able to spin herself like Linda Blair and say she’s grown out of all the crazy stuff. After all, her positions on the issues above are solid to far right Republican, if you take out the witchcraft, the mouse brains, the hobbits, the wanking (and Britney Spears – on which she’s not wrong).

Read more: Abortion, Creationism, National Security, President Obama, Senate Races, Christine O'donnell, Democrats, Health Care, Republicans, Politics News