A Pagan's Life (For Me) - A blog and site for the modern, fashion conscious, pop culture crazed Witch. Yes, I said it, Witch. Witch, Which, Witch...
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
You mean Cleo wasn't like Liz Taylor? - Jolie Will Axe Sexiness From Cleopatra Role
Angelina Jolie is determined to stun viewers with her portrayal of Cleopatra in an upcoming movie because it shatters the Egyptian pharaoh's reputation as a man-eating sex symbol.
Jolie will play the legendary leader in David Fincher's re-telling of the famous story, which is set for release in 2013 on the 50th anniversary of the classic original movie starring Elizabeth Taylor.
And the Tomb Raider actress is adamant her version of the raven-haired queen will be far less glamorous than Taylor's infamous portrayal.
Jolie tells Britain's Stella magazine, "She has been very misunderstood. I thought it was all about the glamour, but then I read about her and she was a very strong mother, she spoke five languages and she was a leader.
"My performance will never be as lovely as Elizabeth's. We are trying to get into a different truth about her as a pharaoh in history and not a sex symbol, because she really wasn't. Even this idea of her having many lovers - it was possible that it was only two. She is very interesting, but she wasn't a great beauty."
Monday, May 30, 2011
Doctor Who writer Steven Moffat to 'rest' Daleks
BBC
The Daleks are to be given "a rest" from battling Doctor Who, writer Steven Moffat has told the Radio Times.
Moffat, who is also the BBC television show's executive producer, said: "They aren't going to make an appearance for a while. We thought it was about time to give them a rest."
The Daleks were voted the scariest villains in the history of Doctor Who in a poll of fans in 2007.
Moffat said they had been defeated by the Doctor "about 400 times".
Created by Terry Nation, the Daleks are the Doctor's hugely popular enemies who have made regular appearances in the long-running science fiction show since first appearing in 1963.
Moffat said: "There's a problem with the Daleks. They are the most famous of the Doctor's adversaries and the most frequent, which means they are the most reliably defeatable enemies in the universe."
Recent episodes of the show, which stars Matt Smith as the timelord, have been criticised for being "too scary for children".
But Moffat said: "It is horror, but horror for children. It's scary in the way that a fairy story can be scary."
The Hobbit Movies Get Titles And Release Dates!
Perez Hilton Filed under: Film Flickers
Thank goodness! No turning back now!
Peter Jackson's The Hobbit movies have officially been given full titles - AND release dates!
The first in the two-part series, now called The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, is set for a December 14th, 2012 release date, and the concluding chapter, The Hobbit: There And Back Again, will drop on December 13th, 2013!
Amazing!
This is going to be just as amazing as when all The Lord of the Rings were coming out a year apart around the same time!
We're so thrilled!
Now we'll have something to look forward to once Harry concludes this summer!
What do U think?? Are U excited for The Hobbit flicks??
CONTEST!!! - What is you favourite Pagan film and why?
Good morning all of my little Witchlings:-)
Today, on this lovely Memorial Day, I am going to have a contest. This one is easy. In the comments section, all you have to do is post your favourite Pagan-based film. I am pretty liberal with the definition, so if you can justify it, you can post it. For example, mine is 'Practical Magic' because it explains the Craft, but it's fun too.
Rules - You have to post it here in the comments area. No Facebook or Twitter this time... I will draw a winner on Friday!
Prize - 'V For Vendetta' on DVD - Thought it was oddly appropriate for the day and the countries level of crankiness;-)
GOOD LUCK!!!
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Helena Bonham Carter 'crippled' by Harry Potter scene
Helena Bonham Carter was "crippled" by her duelling scene in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.
The actress, who plays evil witch Bellatrix Lesrange in the film series, fought against Julie Walters' character Molly Weasley so hard in their pivotal final moments, they were both aching afterward.
She said: "You should warm up before sword fighting, that's what Julie and I found out when we were duelling with each other. We were crippled after that scene!
"Duelling going backward on a table is tricky, without falling off. Which, of course, I did!"
The duel was a source of amusement for the film's cast and crew too, especially because they were watching the two characters go from being friends to mortal enemies every time the cameras rolled.
Mark Williams, who plays Arthur Weasley, told Empire magazine: "They could've sold tickets for filming that scene. They were chatting one minute and cutting each other to bits the next. It was brilliant!"
- BANG! Showbiz
Christiananswers.net Review - Kung Fu Panda 2!!!
"Neutral—I really enjoyed the middle part of this movie. The first and last parts were heavily, I repeat, heavily into the new age belief of “inner peace,” which the movie shows can come from many sources (meditation being one of them, as well as finding your true self). By the end of the movie, Po finds inner peace by finding out about his past and where he came from.
'The Hangover Part II' biggest comedy of all time at $118.1 million
***Note from the Web-Bitch - This has been a GREAT week for Pagan based films. Not only did we see two films steeped in Buddhist culture, 'The Hangover II' and 'Kung Fu Panda 2', we still have Mr. Sparrow ruling the international box office. Great for open conversations with mundanes and Pagans alike:-)
The Hollywood Reporter
Shattering numerous records, Warner Bros.’ The Hangover Part II grossed $118.1 million in its first four days to help fuel the best Memorial Day weekend in history at the domestic box office. The sequel is expected to gross another $20 million on Monday for a staggering five-day bow of $138.1 million, setting a new benchmark for comedies.
DreamWorks Animation and Paramount’s Kung Fu Panda 2 also contributed to the boom, grossing $62.4 million in its first four days (like Hangover, Panda opened on Thursday). The 3D toon should end Monday with a five-day total of $68.2 million.
Kung Fu Panda impressed overseas, where it grossed a mighty $57 million from 8,023 markets in only 11 territories. In seven territories, it scored the best opening ever for an animated title and in China, scored the biggest opening of all time for a foreign film in grossing $18.5 million.
Hangover’s foreign numbers weren’t immediately available.
In the U.S., the specialty business also soared, thanks to Woody Allen ’s holdover Midnight in Paris and new entry The Tree of Life, from Terrence Malick .
Tree of Life, grossing $352,320 for the weekend proper as it opened in four theaters in New York and Los Angeles, posted a per location average of $88,080—an all-time high for a Fox Searchlight title.
Midnight—which debuted last weekend to a per location average of $99,834—grossed $1.9 million as it expanded into a total of 58 theaters for a 10-day cume of $2.8 million, according to Rentrak.
The overall uptick in theater traffic at the domestic box office was a welcome respite for the film business, which has suffered one of the worst box slumps in history. Grosses for Memorial Day weekend are projected to reach $270 million, easily surpassing the $254 million earned in 2007.
From Todd Phillips, Hangover grabbed the best opening ever for a comedy, besting the $85.7 million earned by Bruce Almighty over Memorial Day weekend in 2003, as well as the biggest Saturday ever for a comedy ($29.7 million).
Hangover and Universal’s Bridesmaids set new benchmarks for the playing power of R-rated comedies. Even with competition from Hangover, Bridesmaids held well over the weekend, declining only 27% to an estimated $16.4 million to place No. 4. On Monday, Bridesmaids is expected to earn another $4.4 million for a domestic cume of $89.4 million.
Hangover should grab the largest five-day opening ever for any R-rated pic, comedy or otherwise. Previous best was The Matrix Reloaded ($134.3 million) and The Passion of the Christ ($125.2 million).
Hangover is a sizeable victory for Warners and co-financing partner Legendary Pictures, and delivered the studio its best Memorial Weekend ever (Terminator Salvation was the previous crown holder at $65.3 million).
“This blows everything out of the water. It’s pretty amazing stuff,” Warner Bros. president of domestic distribution Dan Fellman said. “Moviegoers love all the characters, and they love the story.”
Hangover is the first title in months to appeal heavily to younger moviegoers, who represented 54% of the audience.
Moviegoers delivered rave reviews for both Hangover and Kung Fu Panda, which drew an A- CinemaScore and A CinemaScore, respectively.
Families turned out in force for Kung Fu Panda, which return Jack Black , Angelina Jolie , Jackie Chan , Dustin Hoffman , Seth Rogen and Lucy Liu return to lead the voice cast. About 45% of the total gross came 3D screens. If the toon had played in Imax, 3D grosses would have likely repped 55% of the total.
“We’re thrilled to have Kung Fu Panda be part of this record-breaking weekend. We came in at high end of expectations. We played very strong to families and kids, who made up 60% of our audience,” DreamWorks Animation president of marketing Anne Globe said.
The original Kung Fu Panda debuted to $60.2 million in early June 2008 at the domestic box office on its way to cuming $215.4 million.
Coming in third at the domestic box office was Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, which grossed $39.3 for the three-day weekend and is projected to earn $50 million through Monday. That will bring the film’s domestic cume to $163.7 million.
Overseas, Pirates continued to thrive, grossing an estimated $122.9 million for the three-day weekend. By Monday, the tentpole’s global cume will be $646.5 million, by far the best showing of the year.
Witches deploy 500 members to Abuja for Jonathan's inauguration
| By Taiwo Oluwadare for Timbuktu Media LTD |
The Witches and Wizards Association of Nigeria (WITZAN), has deployed 500 witches to Abuja and other parts of Ahead of Nigeria to prevent any tragic occurrence and ensure peaceful inauguration on May 29.
According to its national co-ordinator, Dr Okhue Iboi, the decision was taken after an emergency meeting at Zuma rock, Niger State. WITZAN also warned President Goodluck Jonathan to take adequate security as bad people and disgruntled politicians are planning to cause problems.
Iboi, however, disclosed that the nation would soon have a respite from the people currently throwing bombs all over the places as they would be exposed: “We are going to expose those sponsoring bomb blasts in the country after May 29. They have been caged already. We are going to use our power to cause them to come out and confess their misdeeds. Nigerians would be surprised at how the saboteurs would be exposed.”
He said it was revealed to the witches as far back as last year that no other candidate except Jonathan would rule the nation. The association which also predicted the failure of both former military president Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida and vice president Atiku Abubakar in their presidential quests also disclosed that Jonathan would serve his four-year tenure at the end of which Nigerians would be begging him to go for another term because he has been chosen by God to lead the nation.
Iboi, however, warned Jonathan to beware of sycophants, while warning the incoming ministers and advisers to co-operate with the president and discharge their duties with dedication. The witches warned former Head of State, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) to stop wasting his time pursuing the presidency:
“Buhari should stop wasting his time because his time is past. He can never rule the nation again. His time is gone.” The incoming National Assembly will deliver. This is the time Nigerians will know that they have real legislators.
According to its national co-ordinator, Dr Okhue Iboi, the decision was taken after an emergency meeting at Zuma rock, Niger State. WITZAN also warned President Goodluck Jonathan to take adequate security as bad people and disgruntled politicians are planning to cause problems.
Iboi, however, disclosed that the nation would soon have a respite from the people currently throwing bombs all over the places as they would be exposed: “We are going to expose those sponsoring bomb blasts in the country after May 29. They have been caged already. We are going to use our power to cause them to come out and confess their misdeeds. Nigerians would be surprised at how the saboteurs would be exposed.”
He said it was revealed to the witches as far back as last year that no other candidate except Jonathan would rule the nation. The association which also predicted the failure of both former military president Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida and vice president Atiku Abubakar in their presidential quests also disclosed that Jonathan would serve his four-year tenure at the end of which Nigerians would be begging him to go for another term because he has been chosen by God to lead the nation.
Iboi, however, warned Jonathan to beware of sycophants, while warning the incoming ministers and advisers to co-operate with the president and discharge their duties with dedication. The witches warned former Head of State, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) to stop wasting his time pursuing the presidency:
“Buhari should stop wasting his time because his time is past. He can never rule the nation again. His time is gone.” The incoming National Assembly will deliver. This is the time Nigerians will know that they have real legislators.
“Some people look at us as if we are evil minded people. Not all witches are bad. Our own type of witchcraft is progressive. We are willing to intervene in the affairs of the country anytime the government decides to seek our counsel. We have the solutions to bring lasting peace to the country. Witches and wizards in the country are ready to help restore Nigeria’s lost glory.
“We saw June 12 crisis long before it happened and we warned the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola but he ignored us. Abiola would have been Nigeria’s president but some of us decided to punish him over the role he played in scuttling the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo presidential ambition. We warned him not to waste his time and life. This was reported in some national dailies. We also dealt with the late General Sani Abacha for the execution of the late Ken Saro-Wiwa.”
OMG! The First 3 Minutes Of True Blood Season 4 Has Been Leaked!!
SPOILER WARNING! SPOILER WARNING! SPOILER WARNING!
OHHH EMMM GEEE!!!
The first 3 minutes of the first episode of True Blood's Season 4 have been leaked and we are going cra-zay over it!
If you don't want to be spoiled, do not watch the clip, but if you do, our favorite vampire lover, Sookie Stackhouse, meets her fairy grandmother! YES!!!
Oh, and our favorite telepathic bellboy is back too!
WE.CANNOT.WAIT!!
OHHH EMMM GEEE!!!
The first 3 minutes of the first episode of True Blood's Season 4 have been leaked and we are going cra-zay over it!
If you don't want to be spoiled, do not watch the clip, but if you do, our favorite vampire lover, Sookie Stackhouse, meets her fairy grandmother! YES!!!
Oh, and our favorite telepathic bellboy is back too!
WE.CANNOT.WAIT!!
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Blackbeard's anchor recovered off NC coast
AP
MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. – An anchor from what's believed to be the wreck of the pirate Blackbeard's flagship has been raised from the ocean floor off the North Carolina coast.
Archaeologists believe the anchor recovered Friday is from the Queen Anne's Revenge, which sank in 1718. That was five months before Blackbeard was killed in a battle.
The artifact is the third-largest item at the shipwreck, outsized only by two other anchors.
Researchers retrieved the anchor from the shipwreck about 20 feet under water and were bringing it to shore. The work to retrieve it began last week. The anchor is about 11 feet long.
The recovery coincides with the release this month of "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides." The movie features both Blackbeard and the Queen Anne's Revenge.
New Guest Stars Announced For TORCHWOOD: MIRACLE DAY
Source: Starz
Imagine a day when nobody dies. All across the world, nobody dies. And then the next day, and the next, and the next, people keep aging. They get hurt and sick but they never die. This is the extraordinary premise of the highly-anticipated STARZ original drama series, "Torchwood: Miracle Day," produced by BBC Worldwide Productions for STARZ, BBC Cymru Wales and BBC Worldwide. The series will premiere on STARZ July 8 at 10 pm ET/PT.
Imagine a day when nobody dies. All across the world, nobody dies. And then the next day, and the next, and the next, people keep aging. They get hurt and sick but they never die. This is the extraordinary premise of the highly-anticipated STARZ original drama series, "Torchwood: Miracle Day," produced by BBC Worldwide Productions for STARZ, BBC Cymru Wales and BBC Worldwide. The series will premiere on STARZ July 8 at 10 pm ET/PT.
Today, the network announced that in addition to Torchwood alumni, John Barrowman, Eve Myles, and Kai Owen and new headliners, Mekhi Phifer, Bill Pullman and Alexa Havins, that the 10-episode, hour-long series will also feature an impressive list of guest stars: Wayne Knight (“Seinfeld,” Jurassic Park), C. Thomas Howell (“Southland,” The Outsiders), Ernie Hudson (“OZ,” Ghostbusters), Nana Visitor (“Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”), John DeLancie (“Star Trek: The Next Generation”), Mare Winningham (Mildred Pierce, George Wallace) and Frances Fisher (Titanic, The Lincoln Lawyer).
Additional actors starring in the cult sensation include: Arlene Tur (“Crash,” Eat Pray Love) and Lauren Ambrose (“Six Feet Under,” The Other Woman) who join the cast in an extended guest role. The show's original creator, writer/producer Russell T Davies, serves as executive producer along with BBC Worldwide Productions' SVP Julie Gardner, with Davies also serving as show-runner for "Torchwood: Miracle Day."
"Torchwood: Miracle Day" begins with a day when nobody dies. The result: a population boom, overnight. With all the extra people, resources are finite. It's said that in four month's time, the human race will cease to be viable. But this can't be a natural occurrence - someone's got to be behind it. It's a race against time as C.I.A. agent Rex Matheson investigates a global conspiracy. The answers lie within an old, secret British institute. As Rex keeps asking "What is Torchwood?," he's drawn into a world of adventure, and a threat to change what it means to be human, forever.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Vampire Bill & The First Victoria Are In A Scary Movie Together!
And it actually looks scary!!!
In his downtime from Bon Temps, Stephen Moyer took out his fangs and starred in a little indie horror flick alongside Twilight's, Rachelle Lefevre! It's all kinds of spooky-scary, as Rachelle's character Mary starts getting phonecalls from a murderous fiend from the past who has the ability to alter the future.
Dun dun dun!!!
Check out the trailer for the flick, The Caller (above)!
Thoughts???
He's Back - Confirmed: Orlando Bloom Will Reprise His Role as Legolas for THE HOBBIT
Collider.com
Back in December, we reported that Orlando Bloom might reprise his role as Elven sharpshooter Legolas for Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit. Today on his official Facebook page, Jackson confirmed that he had Legolas bow:
Ten years ago, Orlando Bloom created an iconic character with his portrayal of Legolas. I’m excited to announce today that we’ll be revisiting Middle Earth with him once more. I’m thrilled to be working with Orlando again. Funny thing is, I look older—and he doesn’t! I guess that’s why he makes such a wonderful elf.
Bloom is the latest Lord of the Rings cast member to join The Hobbit. While Gandalf (Ian McKellen), Elrond (Hugo Weaving), and Gollum (Andy Serkis) actually appear in J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel, Jackson has apparently made room for Legolas, Galadriel (Cate Blanchett), old Bilbo (Ian Holm), and Frodo (Elijah Wood). Hit the jump for the synopsis of the novel. The two-part 3D film is set for December 2012 and December 2013.
Here’s the synopsis for J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit:
Bilbo Baggins, the hobbit, is a peaceful sort of cozy hole in the Shire, a place where adventures are uncommon and rather unwanted. So when the wizard Gandalf whisks him away on a treasure hunting expedition with a troop of rowdy dwarves, he’s not entirely thrilled. Encountering ruthless trolls, beastly orcs, gigantic spiders, and hungry wolves, Bilbo discovers within himself astonishing strength and courage. And at the ultimate confrontation with the fearsome dragon Smaug, the hobbit will brave the dangers of dark and dragon fire alone and unaided. [Amazon]
'True Blood's' Jessica Tuck reveals that Nan and Bill have history
Zap 2 It
HBO just released the most revealing trailer so far for "True Blood's" Season 4.
In it, we see the American Vampire League's spokeswoman, Nan Flanagan, assigning Eric (Alexander Skarsgard) and Bill (Stephen Moyer) to damage control on the human-vampire relations front after Russel Edgington's (Denis O'Hare) very public display of vampire blood-thirst in Season 3.
New series regular, Jessica Tuck (who plays Nan) says that her character takes on an increasingly significant role in Season 4.
"It would be foolish to think that her efforts were just about making humans and vamps one big happy family," Tuck tells True Blood's Nest of Nan's work to mainstream vampires. "There is an agenda behind her agenda but that is not for me to reveal right now. Stay tuned."
And while we see her ordering Bill around quite a bit, the actress says there's something more underneath their adversarial relationship.
"All I can say is that Nan and Bill have a history," she says. "Details of that history will be revealed in Season 4. If I say anything more than that, I'll get myself in trouble."
"Relationships between the characters get much more complicated and redefined," Tuck also says. "I love this season - I think there is a lot to sink your teeth into. You won't be disappointed."
"True Blood" Season 4 premieres Sunday, June 26 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO.
What do you think Nan's agenda is?
RIP Jeff Conaway
People Magazine
Jeff Conaway, the long-troubled actor from Grease and TV's Taxi who waged a public battle with cocaine, painkillers and alcohol, died Friday at age 60.
The Celebrity Rehab alum had been in a medically induced coma in critical condition after he was found unconscious earlier this month.
"Jeff was taken off life-support [Thursday] afternoon," his manager, Phil Brock, tells PEOPLE. "His family chose to take him off of life-support based on advice from physicians. They thought for several days that the situation was hopeless."
Conaway died at 10:30 a.m. at a Los Angeles-area hospital. He was surrounded by his sisters, nieces and nephews, Brock says.
The Celebrity Rehab alum had been in a medically induced coma in critical condition after he was found unconscious earlier this month.
"Jeff was taken off life-support [Thursday] afternoon," his manager, Phil Brock, tells PEOPLE. "His family chose to take him off of life-support based on advice from physicians. They thought for several days that the situation was hopeless."
Conaway died at 10:30 a.m. at a Los Angeles-area hospital. He was surrounded by his sisters, nieces and nephews, Brock says.
"Kind, Gentle Soul"
"We loved Jeff as a person. We respect him. We know his personal struggles are all over," says Brock. "He was a kind, gentle soul who loved to perform, from small theater to Broadway."Dr. Drew Pinsky, who had seen Conaway during the recent hospitalization, said the actor had suffered pneumonia and the effects of too much prescription medication.
"There is no evidence showing Jeff died from an overdose," he said. "Jeff is another example of a pharmaceutical death from the overutilization of prescription drugs. Please continue to pray for friends and family. They appreciate your support.”
Conaway got his start when his mother, a struggling actress named Mary Ann Brooks, brought him along to her audition for Broadway's All the Way Home. He ended up getting a part, but his mom wasn't cast. More stage roles followed, then modeling jobs and TV commercials for Clairol, Fab detergent and other products.
At 15, Conaway tried out for the singer's slot in a rock band and within a week was on the road. It was then, he later said, that he got his first taste of drugs. Although he insisted his own habits were limited to coke, pills and pot, within two years "all my friends were junkies," he said. "I figured if I ended up as a musician, I'd have died."
The Road to Grease
Instead, he enrolled in the North Carolina School of the Arts for a year, then switched to New York University, where he took dance classes from Martha Graham and acting classes from Olympia Dukakis.
Jeff Conaway in Grease, 1978
Everett
Shortly before graduation, the lead role in the Broadway production of Grease opened up, and Conaway was back onstage. A supporting part in the movie version in 1978 – his role was Kenickie Murdock, of the T-Brids – became his springboard to Taxi later that year, playing cabbie Bobby Wheeler.
But by the mid-'80s, his personal and professional lives were spiraling downwards.
He broke his four-year contract with Taxi in 1981, and his five-year marriage to Rona Newton-John (sister of Grease star Olivia Newton-John), whom he had met at a cast party, hit the rocks. She was seven years his senior and had a son from a previous marriage.
But by the mid-'80s, his personal and professional lives were spiraling downwards.
He broke his four-year contract with Taxi in 1981, and his five-year marriage to Rona Newton-John (sister of Grease star Olivia Newton-John), whom he had met at a cast party, hit the rocks. She was seven years his senior and had a son from a previous marriage.
"We were always fighting," Conaway told PEOPLE. "She had a problem with identity, being that her sister was such a big star and I was getting a lot of attention at that time."
The couple, who had no children together, divorced in 1985, but by then Conaway was getting a good deal less attention from his public. To help him sleep he began taking Halcion, a prescribed drug that set off erratic behavior in him.
Conaway slipped from public sight going into the 1990s, largely due to his substance abuse problem, though he was a semi-regular (starting the second season) on the sci-fi series Babylon 5, as security officer Zack Allan. He also resurfaced in early 2008 and revealed his troubled past on Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew – though he was unsuccessful in staying sober.
In January 2010, Conaway fell down a staircase and suffered a broken hip, a broken arm, a fractured neck and a brain hemorrhage.
Through it all, said his manager, Conaway was a "gentle soul" who simply was not able to "exorcise his demons."
The couple, who had no children together, divorced in 1985, but by then Conaway was getting a good deal less attention from his public. To help him sleep he began taking Halcion, a prescribed drug that set off erratic behavior in him.
Conaway slipped from public sight going into the 1990s, largely due to his substance abuse problem, though he was a semi-regular (starting the second season) on the sci-fi series Babylon 5, as security officer Zack Allan. He also resurfaced in early 2008 and revealed his troubled past on Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew – though he was unsuccessful in staying sober.
In January 2010, Conaway fell down a staircase and suffered a broken hip, a broken arm, a fractured neck and a brain hemorrhage.
Through it all, said his manager, Conaway was a "gentle soul" who simply was not able to "exorcise his demons."
Christiananswers.net Film Review of the Week - Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
There are ALOT of spoilers in this review, so do not read it if you haven't seen the film. If you do read it, don't bitch that I spoiled anything...
"Negative—Yes, I know, you all love Johnny Dept, but I’m afraid this movie was not worth the cost at the movie theater. Why? Because it has anti-Christian themes in it, a number of subtle sexual jokes, and suggestive themes. Not to mention the couple of profanities thrown in, as we all know no movie is ready without a few of those. I’ll put my sarcastic tone aside… I thought that it was a good story like the rest, but the themes ruined it for me. ***SPOILER ALERT*** The missionary gives up his faith in god for the pretty mermaid. Jack (and this is to be expected of his character, I suppose) makes it seem “cool” to ditch the girl for his wild life, and leaves her on the island. Also, lots of witchcraft from Mr. Blackbeard (voodoo… etc). ***END SPOILERS***
I didn’t think it was worth it, don’t bring your kids. They should learn to value relationships (in the future when they’re ready) and value faith in God and not in mermaids.
Moral rating: Offensive / Moviemaking quality: none"
—Rebekah, age 15 (USA)
I didn’t think it was worth it, don’t bring your kids. They should learn to value relationships (in the future when they’re ready) and value faith in God and not in mermaids.
Moral rating: Offensive / Moviemaking quality: none"
—Rebekah, age 15 (USA)
***NOTE from Web Bitch - Voodoo is NOT Witchcraft. Voodoo is a Christian-based religion. I emailed the site, but I expect not response. W
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Short Cuts -
- NEW True Blood Trailer - Stuff.co.nz
- Tom Felton talks Harry Potter End - Snitchseeker.com
- Tom Felton Talks Spooning With Daniel Radcliffe And Life After Harry Potter - Huffingtonpost
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Warner Bros. to release 'The Hangover Part II' on Thursday as scheduled, tattoo case continues
**Note - I will curse you and your spawn if I don't get to see my man Bradley this weekend, Mr. tattoo artist-man!!!
AND THE WINNERS IS!!!
She explained that when she applied to Tish, the faculty told her she was too "pop for theatre and too theatre for pop," and that she looked "too ethnic." Her reply was, "But what about Liza?"
AND THE WINNER IS - BOB HARRIS!!!
Congrats!!!
AND THE WINNER IS - BOB HARRIS!!!
Congrats!!!
CONTEST!!! Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' Deluxe Edition
Hello all of my Witchlings and Little Monsters!
I am giving to one incredibly smart trivia master a prize: Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' on CD. Not just any cd, the SPECIAL EDITION!!! It is a two disc that has 22 songs/remixes!!!
The question is: In her concert on HBO from Madison Square Garden, she told the story about her school Tish. The faculty told her she was too "pop for theatre and too theatre for pop," and that she looked "too ethnic." Her reply was, "But what about _________?"
I will take all of the correct entries, stir them up in my cauldron and draw a winner tonight!
Message me HERE, Facebook or Twitter (@FAccordions).
GOOD LUCK!!!!
Monday, May 23, 2011
Weekend Box Office: Disney Scores $90 Million for Pirates 4
It’s stranger tides indeed when a $90 million opening is considered disappointing. The fourth installment of Pirates of the Caribbean is now perceived as having failed to reach the magic $100-million mark, reports Anthony D’Alessandro:
The highly anticipated opening for Disney’s fourquel Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides didn’t go off with the cannonballs the industry was expecting, but the Rob Marshall film starring Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Geoffrey Rush and Ian McShane certainly harnessed some wind in the vibrant summer season, taking in $90.1 million at 4,155 piers.
Box office analysts had been proclaiming for weeks that Pirates 4 would be the first $100-million opener of the year. But making such predictions weeks in advance is hazardous. Marketing data becomes increasingly reliable only days, if not hours, prior to a film’s opening and when execs are looking at survey figures that fly off their charts, it becomes harder to pinpoint a $90-million three-day from a $150-million three-day.
In the world of perception, a Wednesday opening might have made a difference. Had Disney unspooled Pirates 4 over five-days, they could be writing press releases heralding a $100 million-plus opening. They implemented a wise distribution maneuver with the last Pirates pic, At World’s End, opening on late Thursday evening prior to Memorial Day weekend, which bolstered pre-Midnight screenings to $14 million at 3,100 sites and total four-half day holiday gross of $153 million. It will be interesting to see if Pirates 4 crosses $100 million on Tuesday.
Sure, the bow of Pirates 4 might be third-best of the franchise, following part two’s $135.6 million in 2006 and part three’s Friday-Sunday $114.7 million haul over the 2007 Memorial Day weekend. However neither Disney nor exhibitors are griping about Pirates 4: A bow like this is excellent in this year’s relaxed B.O. economy and indicates that summer is shaping up well at the B.O.
Pirates 4, which cost $420 million in combined production and global marketing expenses (including a lavish Cannes debut) drew a B+ Cinemascore, which is lower than the A- Cinemascore earned by the last two installments. While audiences remain upbeat on Pirates, critics have grown increasingly cynical. They loved the first one in 2003 at 78% fresh, followed by 54% rotten with Dead Man’s Chest, 45% rotten with At World’s End to finally a current 34% with Stranger Tides—the franchise’s lowest Tomatometer score yet.
UPDATE
Pirate 4 drew 54% male to 46% female with older 26+ folks dominating at 54%. 3-D receipts at 2,747 locales are still being crunched by Disney.
In all, the opening for Pirates 4 is a boom for producer Jerry Bruckheimer who showed signs of going gray last summer with such pricey Disney blunders as Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time ($90.8 million) and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice ($63.2 million). There were few Pirates 4 marketing stunts that really took any breath away; the brand pretty much sold itself with advance trailers and casting news on cinephile sites. Penelope Cruz was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in front of Disney’s El Capitan theater on April 1. Disney sold $1,000 tickets to the Disneyland world premiere of Pirates 4 to benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.
Even though Pirates 4 didn’t face any competition, there was a halo effect with three other films grossing in excess of $10 million. Bridesmaids buzz looks sexy with a second weekend decline of 20%, besting the comedy sophomore dips of The Hangover (-27%) and Wedding Crashers (-24%). Sony Pictures Classics took Woody Allen’s Cannes fav Midnight in Paris out at six sites grossing a boffo $578,805 with a screen average of $96,468. That’s the best screen average for an under top-10 release since last March, outstripping the $88,863 per site grossed by The King’s Speech which made $355,450 at four venues.
Weekend Box Office Top Ten Chart:
1. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides $90.1 million at 4,155 theater. $21,685 theater average. Domestic total: $90.1 million.
2. Bridesmaids (Universal) $21.1 million down 20% in its second weekend at 2,937 theaters. $7,170 theater average. Domestic total: $59.5 million.
3. Thor (Paramount/Marvel) $15.5 million down 55% in its third weekend at 3,924 theaters. $3,950 theater average. Domestic total: $145.4 million.
4. Fast Five (Universal) $10.6 million down 48% in its fourth weekend at 3,622 theaters. $2,935 theater average. Domestic total: $186.2 million.
5. Rio(Fox) $4.65 million down 44% in its sixth weekend at 2,593 theaters. $1,793 theater average. Domestic total: $131.6 million.
6. Priest (Sony/Screen Gems) $4.6 million down 69% in its second weekend at 2,864 theaters. $1,606 theater average. Domestic total: $23.7 million.
7. Jumping the Broom (Sony/TriStar) $3.7 million down 47% in its third weekend at 1,472 theaters. $2,514 theater average. Domestic total: $31.3 million.
8. Something Borrowed (Warner Bros.) $3.425 million down 50% in its third weekend at 2,606 theaters. $1,314 theater average. Domestic total: $31.4 million.
9. Water for Elephants (Fox) $2.15 million down 49% in its fifth weekend at 1,894 theaters. $1,135 theater average. Domestic total: $52.4 million.
10. Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Big Happy Family (Lionsgate) $990K down 55% in its fifth weekend at 912 theaters. $1,084 theater average. Domestic total: $51.8 million.
Friday, May 20, 2011
R.I.P. Mancho Man Randy Savage
Dlisted
There aren't many details, but TMZ confirmed with Randy's brother that the world has indeed lost an icon of the 1980s and wrestling. Randy is survived by his wife of one year Lynn.
As Randy reunites with Miss Elizabeth, I will put on my best fringed spandex bodysuit and pour out a jar of snapped Slim Jims in his honor. Rest in peace, Randy Savage.
REVIEW - Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - A+
I know it's 2:50 am. I know I should be asleep. I HAD to post my review while the image of Captain Jack Sparrow was floating before my eyes...or maybe that's just the guy cosplaying him in the theater. It's late and I'm a little tired.
Reading the reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, I went in the movie expecting a popcorn flick with cutie factor, thanks to our hero Johnny Depp. What I got for the bags under my eyes was fun, exciting, witty and hands down, the BEST Penélope Cruz film I have ever watched. She and Depp trade barbs and swords like an old, waltzing couple. She made an excellent foil for the Captain.
The return of Geoffrey Rush as our beloved (is that the right word) Barbossa and Kevin McNally as Gibbs was joyous, wig and all in Rush's case:-) Welcome additions to the mythology are Ian McShane as Blackbeard and Richard Griffiths as King George. I have always found McShane to be a bit of a movie whore, selling himself to any two-bit director, however here, he was well cast. He seemed to be relishing the roll as Captain of the Queen Anne's Revenge.
If you are a fan of the genre, of action or of Mr. Depp, don't hesitate, just hand over the money and go. The 3D is well worth the fee. It is the best 3D film I have seen since 'Avatar', and I do see most of them. The majority of the time, they are unfortunate...'Rio' and 'The Last Airbender', I'm looking at you. 'Jackass 3D', you had poop, so you are off the hook...
Pros: Johnny 'Freakin' Depp having a blast as his alter-ego. Everyone in the cast having a great time. The smoochy, romance bits were short and less painful than the earlier trilogy. I love them, but you can only watch Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley roll their eyes at each other for so long. GREAT 3D!!!
Cons: The Spaniards all looked like they would have been picked up by Madonna. Did they really look that pretty back then? The religion angles felt a bit heavy handed. The Pagan VS. Christian tones (No, I will not go into detail, it's a plot point) were trite.
Pagan Content: Due to the genre, it was steeped in it. From Zombies to Mermaids, all Pirate lore was fully covered. Also, some really excellent VooDoo doll tools were employed.
WARNING - STAY FOR THE END!!!
Rating - A+
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Tim Burton Ditches Maleficent
Empire Magazine
Though he’d been loosely attached to the project for a while now, Tim Burton has decided that he doesn’t want to direct Maleficent, Disney’s new take on the Sleeping Beauty tale that focuses on the evil witch instead of the princess.
The Mouse House was looking to get the Alice In Wonderland director to bring his box office-boosting magic to the new, live action version of the story, hiring Alice writer Linda Woolverton to crank out the script, which was being aimed at Angelina Jolie starring as the cackling, green-skinned woman who has to propensity to morph into a huge dragon when the moment calls for it.
But despite the fact that Burton passed on the idea, Disney isn’t throwing the project back into limbo and is even now hunting around for a director to sweep in and awaken it with a kiss. According to the Heat Vision Blog, one of the people being considered is Harry Potter stalwart David Yates, who certainly knows a thing or two about handling magic in movies. Question is, would he want to commit to another story of sorcery so soon after finally getting the smell of Hogwarts’ burning rubble out of his hair?
As for TB, he’s busy making Dark Shadows for Warner Bros., but hasn’t left Disney completely – he’s also still overseeing the stop-motion feature version of his Frankenweenie short film...
James White
Monday, May 16, 2011
Outer Critics Circle Picks The Book of Mormon For Year's Best!
Perez Hilton Filed under: Broadway Babies > Awardz
Congrats to everyone involved with The Book of Mormon, especially the guys over at South Park, for putting together not only the most highlarious idea for a musical, but also one that has just been chosen by the Outer Critics Circle as the year's best!
The OCC is made up of writers and commentators who focus purely on New York theater, so it's a pretty hefty honor!
Among others were:
"War Horse" [won] best play and "Anything Goes" best musical revival.
Mark Rylance in "Jerusalem" edged out Al Pacino for best actor in a drama, while there was a tie between Nina Arianda in "Born Yesterday" and Frances McDormand in "Good People" for the top actress award Sunday.
Great job to everyone honored! We can't wait to see Mormon, that's for sure!
[Image via WENN.]
Review - Priest - B-
By Guest Blogger Maeghan Kimball
Movie Review: Priest starring Paul Bettany
It’s Paul Bettany in a futuristic action film. I had expectations of wonderful craptastic dialogue that makes the audience laugh when Mr. Bettany delivers his lines in his wooden serious way that audiences have come to know and love. But I was surprised.
The movie has a plot that holds up. (And there’s no one named Jeep that we all want to die but Paul insists on saving. Ugh, Legion anyone?) The plot is a very typical good versus evil, but the main character is perfectly made for Mr. Bettany. He’s a quiet brooding type that says more with a look than actual words. Man has survived the Vampire menace and imprisoned them and The Church is the only thing left to protect mankind in the wasteland that the wars have left the world in. The world is dark and stark and is a mix between post-apocalyptic and a cowboy feel.
The Church has protected society and through their actions, humanity has survived the Vampire scourge. The Church controls every aspect of life. Mass confessionals and the entire population worships in fear as one. That’s in the cities. Out in the wasteland, it’s the dust bowl prairie and it’s practically lawless. The Vampires are contained in Reservations and they are no longer a threat. Until they kill a family and kidnap their daughter, Lucy played by Lily Collins. Enter Priest, played by Paul Bettany. Priest was part of a Church Special Forces unit that was trained to be Vampire killers extraordinaire. After the Priests won the war, according to the Church, they were disbanded back into society, but they were feared and unwelcome. The Church wanted to forget them, too, so they survive on the edges, their scars never healing. They are convinced that the war isn’t over yet. The Church is adamant that the War is over. So when Hicks, played by Cam Gigandet, shows up to enlist Priest’s help in recovering the kidnapped Lucy, the Church threatens to excommunicate him if he leaves the city to rescue the
Priest, the lead character, was part of a special force of Church made warriors that have been disbanded after they took care of the vampire threat. But the remaining Priests fill like outsiders from the world and the Church that they were trained to protect and worship. Enter the bad guy, Black Hat played by Karl Urban, who not only has a plan to kill all the humans but to take revenge on Priest. He has Priest’s family killed except for his niece Lucy. Lucy’s love interest Hicks comes to the city to recruit Priest to save Lucy. But if he goes, he defies the Church and therefore God. Wouldn’t be much of a movie if Priest didn’t go. Paul Bettany manages to pull off the emotionally detached killer with issues with the Church and his own Faith.
Now this is where I started to grove on the movie. Fantasy has always been my favorite genre of movies and books because of the way that they can focus on an aspect of our world without it feeling like an attack. This movie takes on the separation of The Church as an entity and Personal Faith and their relationship with God. Priest has to choose to either “Going against The Church, is Going against God,” or following what his heart says in the right thing to do about Lucy, the vampires and the way that the Church is blind to the real threats that are going on. As the movie unfolds in a fun cowboy movie with lots of cool toys way, the extent of the way the church has manipulated the lives of the characters and the world in ways that are truly diabolical are revealed. The vampires, once conquered, were put into concentration camp like reservations and treated in ways that society would not even treat dogs. Maybe it’s because these vampires look nothing like humans. They are pure creatures and predators. They have no ambitions beyond that. It’s the infected humans, or familiars as Priests refers to them, that have the plans and schemes, hence Black Hat. As I said, I was grooving on the parallels and mirrors of life.
Here is where it failed. I wanted more action. The actions scenes were good, but they were quick and to the point. The Priests, that were the scourge of the Vampires, never get a full moment to show their true strength and shine. The vampires get the same treatment. Their fights are quick and to the point. I wanted violence and blood! But the fight scenes that were there were good but not gratuitous.
There was no comedy. Absolutely none. Not that it is required, but it’s nice to have a moment when everything is okay for a moment and Hicks could have really provided it. The character was meant for it, but no. All seriousness.
So overall, I liked it. Surprised me how much I liked it. The twists and reveals weren’t earth-shattering, but that wasn’t what I was looking for. This movie may have lacked in action, but the message more than made up for it in my mind. Overall I give it a B-, more actions and I would have given it a B+.
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There are very touching parts about adoption, but it doesn’t make up for the whole “inner peace” thing, imo. A Christian parent simply cannot watch this movie with their kids, without feeling the strong urge to talk to their kids about where real inner peace comes from. As soon as we got home from this movie, I picked up the Bible and showed my 7 year old a couple verses that show that real peace comes from knowing God and that Jesus is the only one who can give us lasting inner peace. The first Kung Fu Panda was very light on the new age beliefs, but this one really amped it up a lot. Makes me wonder if that was their intention. Probably would not have taken my kids if I knew it would be like this, but they did enjoy it, and we got a lot of laughs out of it, when it wasn’t busy shoving “inner peace” down our throats."
My Ratings: Moral rating: Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 5
—Lisa, age 27 (USA)