Lazy Jedi

Casen Sperry contacted me regarding his hilarious Star Wars skit. Witness the power of the force like never before...

Wizards

Twentieth Century Fox’s first-ever animated film, created by renowned director Ralph Bakshi, WIZARDS appears in a 35th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray + Book release on March 13 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Celebrating its 35th anniversary, the “epic fantasy of peace and magic” stars the voice talent of Mark Hamill (Star Wars Saga). The special edition Blu-ray + Book release is a must-have for fans and collectors, featuring 24-pages of amazing artwork from the film, some of the artwork never-before-seen, and a special message from Bakshi!

Set on a post-apocalyptic Earth, this fantasy adventure follows the story of Avatar, the kindly, eccentric sorcerer-ruler of Montagar, a rainbow paradise inhabited by elves and fairies. Avatar's evil brother, Blackwolf, dominates Scortch, a bleak land of goblins and wraiths. When the power-hungry Blackwolf attacks Montagar, Avatar, accompanied only by a spirited young woman and a courageous elf, must enter the darkness of Scortch to save his world.

Ralph Bakshi would later direct an animated adaptation of The Lord of the Rings, but was unable to complete the trilogy.

Star Wars: Underworld

The long-gestating live-action Star Wars television series has a working title, but no release date!

Underworld.

Before you leap for joy at the prospect of seeing Kate Beckinsale as a bounty hunter. This isn't a cross-over with the actor's storied franchise of the same name.

IGN (owned by News Corporation, which distributes the Star Wars movies) recently interviewed Rick McCallum who is no stranger to episodic television and produced the Emmy Award-Winning The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles.

"The scripts take place between episodes III and IV," says McCallum. "It's that twenty-year period when Luke is growing up. It's not about Luke, but it's about that period when the Empire is really trying to take things forward. It's called Underworld - that's the working title - and it's underneath what's going on: the criminals and the gangs that are running everything. It's like Wall Street, and the criminals that are running the United States!"

Due to alleged budgetary concerns, Underworld won't be hitting television screens anytime soon.

"The prequels only cost $100m each, which in Hollywood is nothing," McCallum claims, "but this is really tough, because we're trying to put the same effects and technology from those two-hour films, into one-hour episodes, and do it every week for $5m an episode.

"We have fifty unbelievable scripts. Each episode is bigger than any of the prequels were, and they're complex and dark and adult. But right now, technologically, there's no way we can do them for that $5m: there's so much digital animation, because we have so many digital characters. So I think the idea is just that we hold off, wait and see if there are any major breakthroughs in the next year or two, and once we can come up with some virtual set software that allows us to travel anywhere, we'll revisit. We'll get there. I just hope I live long enough!"

What are your thoughts on Star Wars: Underworld?

Netflix launches in UK

Netflix has launched in the UK and LOVEFiLM has responded by cutting its unlimited streaming tariff to £4.99 per month, with a 30-day free trial.

Netflix (available now on PS3) has more than 20 million streaming members in 47 countries and territories, and will be a tough competitor in a space that sees it go up against the likes of Amazon-owned LOVEFiLM and Sky Movies.

"We are starting 2012 in the best possible way: by giving consumers in the UK and Ireland an amazing entertainment experience," said Reed Hastings, co-founder and chief executive of Netflix.

"Now, you can enjoy as many great films and TV programmes as you want, when you want, where you want, for one low monthly price with no contracts or commitments."

The US firm said that its UK and Ireland service features high-quality video streaming technology, including high definition and Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 sound, as well as "advanced recommendation technology" for users to track down new content.

The company has revolutionised the way Americans watch films. However, it faces stiff competition in the UK.

Last Christmas I started subscribing to LOVEFiLM Instant. I prefer streaming film and television, around my home, to wireless platforms including Sony BRAVIA Internet Video enabled devices and PS3. There's currently no HD content available (as yet), but the service is much more convenient than physical storage media such as Blu-ray disc or DVD. Of course BBC iPlayer already broadcasts selected programmes in HD (720p).

Both companies have inked deals with major Hollywood studios and television broadcasters. So, it may take more than price to differentiate LOVEFiLM and Netflix in the long run.

Do you think Netflix will be successful in the UK? How about in Ireland? Both? Neither???

The Hobbits discover LEGOLAND

This summer LEGO will launch official tie-ins for Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings and forthcoming The Hobbit. Imagine sets depicting Mirkwood or Mordor?

Given the success of the LEGO franchise in the video game space...

Happy Holidays!

This is my final post of 2011! Thank you for continuing to support this blog and sending in news. It's most appreciated.

I would like to wish you a fantastic holiday season, whatever you may be doing, and all the best for the New Year.

Donald Faison talks Star Wars and LEGO on Conan

Donald Faison, who plays Turk in the comedy Scrubs, discusses the power of the force and being a blerd with Conan O'Brian.

Microsoft Kinectimals bound onto the App Store

After bringing the excellent My Xbox LIVE and Halo Waypoint to the App Store. Microsoft has launched Kinectimals, its Tamagotchi-like sim, which ties-in with the company's Xbox 360 game!

How long before Sony brings its IP to iOS?

Kinectimals (iTunes)

New Girl

Critically acclaimed smash hit comedy New Girl makes its UK television premiere, with indie golden girl Zooey Deschanel making her TV debut as Jess Daly. Newly single after walking in on her boyfriend with another woman, Jess is in desperate need of a place to live. Answering a flat share ad, she crash lands in the lives of three single guys she has never met before.

Nursing a broken heart, she arrives on their doorstep with an unusual line in house-warming gifts, including a Dirty Dancing DVD (which plays on a constant loop), a model BFF and a neat line in personal theme tunes.

Jess is an unlikely addition to the digs: Nick is still smarting from his own break-up; Schmidt is a ladies man who thinks it's a winning manoeuvre to remove his shirt at the drop of a hat; and Coach is a personal trainer with serious anger-management issues. But as their relationships progress, Jess and the boys come to realise they need each other more than they ever realised and end up forming a charmingly dysfunctional family.

New Girl takes a fresh and outrageous look at modern male and female relationships. The show premiered in the US with over 10 million viewers making it Fox's highest-rated autumn sitcom debut in a decade. The cast also includes Jake Johnson, Max Greenfield, Lamorne Morris and Hannah Simone.

Kinect with LOVEFiLM on Xbox LIVE

LOVEFiLM, an Amazon company, launches on the Xbox 360 and Kinect tomorrow giving a million more film fans access to the movies they want to watch in an instant.

The movie viewing experience will be transformed as, for the first time, LOVEFiLM members watching on Kinect for Xbox 360 will be able to use voice commands and gestures to control LOVEFiLM Instant – the movie streaming service – with ease via their Kinect enabled consoles.

Xbox 360 users will be able to watch thousands of movies via LOVEFiLM Instant including exclusive content such as the award-winning drama Gran Torino and teen phenomenon The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, with forthcoming titles The Dark Knight, breakout comedy The Hangover and dark romance Blue Valentine becoming available in time for Christmas.

LOVEFiLM Instant is available from just £5.99 via a huge range of devices including PCs, iPad®, Internet-connected TV sets, Blu-ray players, tablets and games consoles. Becoming an Xbox LIVE integrated film service provider is another milestone in LOVEFiLM’s ambition to bring the service to as many homes as possible.

Simon Calver, CEO of LOVEFiLM, said:

“It is an exciting day for LOVEFiLM customers who have known this was coming. Launching LOVEFiLM Instant on Xbox 360 and Kinect means we are bringing the service to a million more living rooms.

“LOVEFiLM members in the UK can access our content in another exciting, innovative way and all for one straightforward price.  The simplicity of our pricing and the ease with which customers can use LOVEFiLM Instant should make us the first choice for those film fans who want fantastic entertainment at great value for money, anytime, anywhere.”

Stephen McGill, Director of Xbox & Entertainment for Microsoft UK said:

“It’s very exciting to see the launch of Amazon’s LOVEFiLM on Xbox LIVE.  Xbox owners will be eager to get started, using their Kinect-enabled consoles to interact with LOVEFiLM’s extensive catalogue of movies in ways that will only be available on Xbox 360.”

LOVEFiLM is Europe’s largest subscription service, streaming movies and TV episodes over the Internet and sending DVDs by post.

Not yet a customer? Sign up here, and select the ‘LOVEFiLM Instant’ option.