Stacey Thunder to be honored in Tulsa
Stacey Thunder
American Indian actress Stacey Thunder will join the cast of “Crash” in its second season, debuting this Friday, Sept. 18. The actress will also be honored at the National Center for American Indian Enterprise at the black-tie Native American 40 Under 40 Recognition Reception to be held at the 2009 Indian Progress in Business Event (INPRO) in Tulsa on Friday.
Based on the motion picture “Crash,” the TV series stars Dennis Hopper and Jocko Sims. Along with Thunder, who will play Judith Turandot, new cast members this season include Eric Roberts (“The Dark Knight”), Linda Park Dana Ashbrook and Jake McLaughlin (“In the Valley of Elah”).
Click past the cut for the full release.
Gene Roddenberry’s Apple MacIntosh Plus to be auctioned
Profiles in History will be offering at auction an early production Macintosh 128 at an October auction. The computer was given to “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry by Apple and was later upgraded to a Macintosh Plus for Roddenberry by Apple.
Profiles in History estimates the computer will go for $800-$1200. Also to be auctioned in October is Michael Jackson’s glove from the “Victory” tour and the original cover art from the “Victory” album. 
Previous Profiles in History auctions have included the “Cowardly Lion” costume from The Wizard of Oz ($805,000); a full-scale model T-800 Endoskeleton from Terminator 2: Judgment Day ($488,750); a T.I.E. Fighter filming miniature from Star Wars ($402,500); a King Kong six-sheet movie poster ($345,000); the Command Chair from the “U.S.S. Enterprise” ($304,750); Harrison Ford’s hero blaster from Blade Runner ($258,750); the original “Robot” from Lost in Space ($264,500); Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber ($240,000); a Frankenstein one-sheet movie poster ($212,400); the Black Beauty car from The Green Hornet ($192,000); George Reeves’ Superman costume from The Adventures of Superman ($126,500); the H.R. Giger designed Alien creature suit from Alien ($126,500); a full-scale T-Rex head from Jurassic Park ($126,500), the Leaping Alien Warrior figure from Aliens ($126,500), Christopher Reeve’s ‘Superman’ costume from Superman: The Movie ($115,000), C-3PO’s helmet ($120,000), The Wizard of Oz ‘Winkie’ Guard Costume ($115,000); a “Ming the Merciless” cape from Flash Gordon ($115,000) and the Hydraulic screen-used Velociraptor from The Lost World: Jurassic Park II ($115,000).
Click past the cut for the full release.
Iron Patriot vs Doctor Doom
Marvel has released the above promotional image with the following text:
This December from Brian Michael Bendis, Michael Lark and David Finch, it’s the Iron Patriot versus Doctor Doom!
NECA acquires WizKids assets, including HeroClix
HeroClix fans may see the light at the end of the tunnel. The National Entertainment Collectibles Association, Inc. (NECA) has purchased the majority of the assets of WizKids, Inc. from The Topps Company, Inc.
This includes HeroClix, ActionClix, HorrorClix and SportsClix. Also acquired by NECA were the WizKids brand, the Pocketmodel Game family of games, including the Pirates of the Crimson Coast, Pirates of the Spanish Main and Pirates of the Cursed Seas games, and the Mage Knight line of games.
According to the release, the popular DC and Marvel HeroClix lines will continue under this new ownership, which has got to be a relief for the players who have been waiting to see if their game would return.
Click past the cut for the full release.
Details revealed on The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Universal Orlando has revealed some of the details of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, a destination inside the Orlando resort’s Islands of Adventure. It’s set to open in spring 2010.
The land will include Hogwarts castle, the entrance to Hogsmeade station, and shops including Zonko’s and Three Broomsticks. The Harry Potter films’ production designer, Stuart Craig and art director, Alan Gilmore are working with artisans from Universal to complete what is intended to be a very immersive Harry Potter experience.
Click past the cut for the full release.
AP: Publicist says Patrick Swayze has died
Patrick Swayze
According to the Associated Press, Patrick Swayze’s publicist reports that the actor died Monday at age 57. The actor had been battling pancreatic cancer for nearly 2 years.
My first story for The Oklahoman was about the 10th anniversary of “Dirty Dancing,” probably the film with which Swayze was most-identified. I enjoyed some of his pre-”Dancing” roles, including “Red Dawn” and “The Outsiders,” which was filmed in Tulsa and based on the book by S.E. Hinton.
In the late 1980s, he starred in some questionable action films (including “Road House”) before starring in 1990′s massive hit “Ghost.” 1991′s “Point Break,” co-starring Keanu Reeves, was a big hit among my high school crowd. He was in multiple films throughout the 1990s and 2000s, though few reached the popularity of his earlier work.
After being diagnosed with cancer, he starred in the TV series “The Beast.”
- Matt Price
24 Hour Comics Day nears
The national comic-book event 24 Hour Comics Day is set for October 3. It’s an annual challenge in which creators attempt to produce a 24-page comic book in 24 consecutive hours.
ComicsPRO, the comic book specialty retailer trade organization, heads up the event. Interested parties can find out more about the event, and nearby locations, at www.24hourcomics.day.com.
Norah Curry, promotions director of the Laughing Ogre Comics comic-book chain, is heading up promotion for this year’s 24 Hour Comics Day. She said the event is intended to expose people to the process of comic-book creation.
“24 Hour Comics Day is intended to let anyone, at any skill level, who is interested in creating their own comic create one,” Curry said. “(It’s) an event to get people excited about the creative energy of creating a comic in a day.”
Curry is committee leader of ComicsPRO’s 24 Hour Comics Day Committee.
“ComicsPRO is the national sponsor for the event,” Curry said. “We are here to make sure that the groundwork is laid for anyone who wants to sponsor a site. We also work with national sponsors to make sure that the participants and host sites have everything that they need to make the event a successful one.”
Curry said all are welcome, from professional artists to complete novices. The camaraderie of the day is one of the most memorable parts of the event.
“I have seen some great artwork, innovative stories and artists getting know each other,” Curry said. “Most entertaining are the waning hours of the event as everyone gets their second wind of frenetic energy to complete the challenge.”
With a few weeks to go until the event, there’s still time for new locations to sign up.
“If your local store is not listed as a host site, ask them,” Curry said. “If you don’t have a local store, ask your local library! You never know who will want to be involved.”
- by Matthew Price
Monday movie quote challenge #44
“What you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.”
Identify who said the above quote in what film in the comments!
Movie review: Whiteout
The icy wasteland of Antarctica practically becomes a character in “Whiteout,” the mystery thriller based on the graphic novel by Greg Rucka and Steve Lieber.
The “Whiteout” of the title refers to a potentially deadly snowstorm that prevents visibility and can strand even an experienced resident of Antarctica.
Kate Beckinsale (“Underworld”) stars as U.S. Marshal Carrie Stetko, who is nearing the end of her two-year term as the law-enforcement officer of this inhospitable land.
But when a body is found between the U.S. base of Amundsen-Scott and the Russian Vostok base, Carrie is drawn into a mystery. She must race the clock to solve the crime before months of darkness descend upon the South Pole.
Examination of the body by the base’s doctor, Dr. John Fury (Tom Skerritt), reveals it to be that of a geologist named Weiss, who had been studying meteorites in a remote area.
His injuries lead Carrie to believe his death was a murder.
After getting a message from one of Weiss’ colleagues, Carrie makes her way to the Vostok base, along with a pilot, Delfy (played by Columbus Short).
Like the terrain, Carrie’s demeanor can become icy. Even after two years, she hasn’t resolved in her mind the events that brought her to Antarctica. She’s also not quick to trust, questioning the appearance of United Nations investigator Robert Pryce (Gabriel Macht) at the Vostok base.
Despite mysterious attacks, Carrie crisscrosses the dangerous land looking for clues that will lead her to the killer.
Where the movie is at its most successful is bringing home the raw danger of the frigid cold.
Unfortunately, the mystery doesn’t completely hang together, and the villains aren’t given a chance to attain much depth.
Movie Review
“Whiteout”|
R/ 1:46/ 2 stars
Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Gabriel Macht, Columbus Short, Alex O’Loughlin, Shawn Doyle.
(Violence, grisly images, brief strong language and some nudity.)
— Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
Twilight already gaining ground; Tyler Perry leads weekend openers in presales
According to Fandango, Tyler Perry’s “I Can Do Bad All By Myself” has the most pre-sales of this weekend’s opening films, accounting for 53 percent of ticket sales on the site as of 10 a.m. Pacific today.
“The Twilight Saga: New Moon,” despite not opening until Nov. 20, is the No. 2 seller at Fandango today, with 20 percent of advance ticket sales. Rounding out the top 5 are “9″ with 4 percent, “Inglourious Basterds” with 3 percent, and “Whiteout,” also with 3 percent.
Fandango also asked fans about upcoming horror films. “Zombieland” was the film respondents most wanted to see in the theater, with 31 percent of votes. It was followed by “Jennifer’s Body,” starring Megan Fox, with 30 percent, and “Sorority Row,” which opened today, with 18 percent. “Pandorum” landed 18 percent, and 8 percent went to other responses.
- Matt Price
