Wednesday 25 May 2011

Today in History: Star Wars Premieres in 1977



Has it really been over three decades since George Lucas' space opera began?

Star Wars created its own cottage industry and spawned five sequels, various animated TV series and, most recently, The Clone Wars, which is about to start its fourth season!

Thanks Lomography for the reminder! You can read the full story of the premiere here.

Buy Star Wars merchandise from The Entertainer.

Tuesday 24 May 2011

Transformers turn to the dark side



Readers will know that the Transformers were a huge part of my childhood and may recall how much I enjoyed Transformers: A popcorn movie that deftly mixed Spielbergian hijinks with Bayhem until that, troubled, final reel.

The first sequel crashed and burned (ashamed to admit that I own the IMAX Edition, a Wal*Mart exclusive, on Blu-ray disc). But, for some inexplicable reason, I'm looking forward to Dark of the Moon sans Megan Fox. How about you?

Buy Transformers: Dark of the Moon merchandise from The Entertainer.

Monday 23 May 2011

Star Tours - The Adventures Continue



Join Star Wars: The Clone Wars star Ashley Eckstein for an interview with Walt Disney Imagineer Tom Fitzgerald about Star Tours – The Adventures Continue.



Watch the opening ceremony webcast on Facebook!

Friday 13 May 2011

A galaxy of Star Wars eBooks announced



The entire library of Star Wars fiction titles under the Del Rey and Bantam Spectra imprints will be available in eBook format as of June 28, 2011.

All Star Wars eBooks from Del Rey and Bantam Spectra will include additional content at the back of the book. The extra content will include the following:

  • An updated Star Wars novels timeline
  • An introduction to the six major Star Wars eras: The Old Republic, Rise of the Empire, Rebellion, The New Republic, New Jedi Order, and Legacy
  • Over half a dozen additional excerpts from some of the most popular Star Wars books of the last thirty years

"Readers and fans have been asking for the Star Wars novels to be made available digitally, and we're excited that we can finally make this happen," said Howard Roffman, President of Lucas Licensing. "We're committed to providing fans with great Star Wars stories that can be enjoyed on any reading platform. We're thrilled to see the extensive backlist of Del Rey and Bantam titles made available electronically."

"Over 30 years ago, Del Rey Books published the novelization of the very first Star Wars film," said Gina Centrello, President of the Random House Publishing Group. "Since that time, the Star Wars Saga has grown to become a worldwide phenomenon. We're exceptionally proud to have been at the helm of such a rich and vast literary universe, and thrilled to be working with our partners at Lucasfilm as we move into the future with eBooks."

The announcement was made on the official Star Wars website.

Will you be downloading Star Wars eBooks to Kindle, iPad or similar reading device?

Wednesday 11 May 2011

Mexican Stormtrooper



A reader sent in this awesome Star Wars-related photo (credited to Bonnie Burton).

For more on the Mexican Stormtrooper and Spaghetti Westerns in space visit here.

Tuesday 10 May 2011

Monday 9 May 2011

Misfits cast Joe Gilgun as new recruit Rudy



As filming begins on Series 3 of E4's Bafta-nominated smash hit drama series Misfits, Joe Gilgun (star of This Is England '86) enrols for community service as new guy Rudy. He lines up alongside Misfits resident delinquents Bafta nominee Lauren Socha, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Antonia Thomas and Iwan Rheon in the super-sized series which sees its run extended to eight episodes.

New kid on the block Rudy gets a rude awakening in his first few days of community service, learning that with the keys to the infamous locker comes a great deal of running and screaming and, in some instances, bloodletting. But that really is the least of his worries. More pressing is just how to keep his secret superpower, well, secret. And is it super? As in from the A- List?

The rest of the gang are also back with all-new powers. But just how did that trade off with Seth (Matthew McNulty), the superpower dealer, go down? You would hope that at least one of them has a power approaching something halfway useful. You would hope... Is Simon any closer to fulfilling his destiny as Superhoodie? And just where does he learn to do all that nifty parkour?

With Seth still trading powers, zombies on the loose, havoc being wreaked with events from the past and even more havoc being wreaked in the present, things haven't got any quieter for our gang...

The 8 x 60 min series will be produced by Clerkenwell Films (Afterlife, Persuasion) for transmission on E4 later in 2011. And it's not just a new look cast - the production team get their very own make-over. Matt Strevens (Skins) produces while Alex Garcia and Wayne Yip (Coming Up, Secret Diary of a Call Girl) take on co-directorial duties.

Writer Howard Overman (Misfits, Merlin) will be writing five of the eight episodes and executive producers for Clerkenwell Films Murray Ferguson and Petra Fried both return. The new series has been greenlit by Drama Commissioning Editor Robert Wulff-Cochrane.

Thursday 5 May 2011

THX inventor to join Apple



Leo Laporte tweeted that Tomlinson Holman (inventor of the THX sound system) is purportedly joining Apple to head up the Cupertino-based company's audio division.

This is amazing news!

Wednesday 4 May 2011

ClamCase announces Limited Edition Trooper Case



Hollywood, CA. - May 4, 2011 -- In conjunction with the celebration surrounding, “May the 4th Be With You”, ClamCase® - The All-In-One Keyboard Case and Stand for iPad announces the upcoming launch of its first release from the Limited Edition ClamCase® Inspired Series.

The Trooper Limited Edition ClamCase® is space-inspired keyboard case for the Apple® iPad. Featuring a black hinge, keyboard, base, and ergonomic rubber feet, the imperial white protective case provides contrast. Collectors and fans will enjoy the high-quality fit and finish of the latest ClamCase®.

In addition, ClamCase® is gearing up for the launch of the ClamCase® for iPad 2. This all-new version builds on the features that made the original ClamCase® an instant global success. ClamCase® for iPad 2 has been designed with an all-new light and sleek design, and will be available in both black and white models.

ClamCase® products offer an incredibly practical solution for those who have experienced the magic of the Apple® iPad, and are looking to take their device to the next level. ClamCase® is the only tablet case on the market today that not only enhances the mobility of the iPad with a highly functional keyboard and durable hard-cover case, but also maintains the freedom of the tablet design with its patent-pending 360 hinge.

ClamCase® products are in high demand worldwide for their desirable features and ability to enhance FaceTime®, Facebook®, YouTube®, Netflix®, online gaming, endless apps, and web surfing. In addition to the growing popularity with professionals, educational institutes, and other organizations, ClamCase® products are used to protect the iPad investment, while greatly increasing mobility and productivity.

ClamCase for iPad is currently available for purchase, with a retail price of $149 and a special clamcase.com online price of $119. For a limited time purchase a ClamCase® Gift Card for $99 and receive $119 store value. This discounted gift card can be used for any product(s) from within the ClamCase online store.

The Limited Edition ClamCase® Trooper and ClamCase® for iPad 2 will ship this summer.