Movies

The final casting for the upcoming “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” has been announced, you can check it out at: http://www.comicon.com/thebeat/archives/2004/08/narnia.html

Steven Sommers (The Mummy) announced he is going to direct a new Flash Gordon movie.

The successful Indian-born director Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding) told an Indian newspaper that she was asked to direct the fifth installment of the Harry Potter movies, “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix”. Nair stated that she is still reading the script and will decide shortly if she is interested.

And a few more rumors about the upcoming Superman movie. The comic’s writer Mark Millar claims that Jim Caviezel (Jesus in “The Passion of The Christ”) is set to play the Man of Steel. Despite a repute of the claim from Caviezel and other sources, Millar continues to claim it is true and is offering to pay 1000 dollars to charity if disputed. For more info go to: http://www.zap2it.com/movies/news/story/0,1259,---22789,00.html

Some new movies in planning: a new Highlander movie (an animated one apparently), the Spiderwick Chronicles (that was illustrated by famed fantasy artist Tony DiTerlizzi), a new movie based on the book “Alice in Wonderland” (which apparently will be completely true to the book), Species III (a D.V.D release).

Neil Gaiman also announced that a movie based on his book Coraline is planned, and the movie will be in stop motion animation and will be directed by “The Nightmare Before Christmas” director Henry Selick.

Steven Spielberg’s planned remake of the classic “War of the Worlds” is rumored to be the most expensive movie in history with a budget of more the $200 million.

T.V.

The British channel Sky One will air a few specials in which a panel of judges will decide the best in Sci-Fi, in several different categories (like best alien, best sci-fi moment etc.). Sky One also lets the audience to vote and influence the poll. For more info: http://www.skyone.co.uk/top10scifi%5Fsite/

The BBC conducted a poll to choose the best T.V. scientists. The winners were Dr Bunsen Honeydew and his assistant Beaker from the Muppets, and 2nd place went to Dr. Spock from Star Trek. For more info go to: http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/tv_film/newsid_3632000/3632148.stm

The trailer for the new Farscape miniseries is online, to watch go to: http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/farscape/

And the first trailer for the new Battlestar Galactica series is also up, for more info: http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/

Books

The winners for this year Hugo awards were announced and they are:

Best Novel

•Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold

Best Novella

•"The Cookie Monster" by Vernor Vinge [Full text: http://www.analogsf.com/0406/cookiemonster.shtml]

Best Novelette

•"Legions in Time" by Michael Swanwick [Full text: http://www.asimovs.com/_issue_0406/legionsintime.shtml]

Best Short Story

•"A Study in Emerald" by Neil Gaiman [Full text: http://www.neilgaiman.com/exclusive/StudyinEmerald.asp]

Best Related Book

•The Chesley Awards for Science Fiction and Fantasy Art: A Retrospective by John Grant, Elizabeth L. Humphrey and Pamela D. Scoville

Best Dramatic Presentation: Long Form

•The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Best Dramatic Presentation: Short Form

•Gollum's Acceptance Speech at the 2003 MTV Movie Awards

Best Professional Artist

•Bob Eggleton

Best Semiprozine

•Locus

Best Fanzine

•Emerald City

Best Fan Artist

•Frank Wu

John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer

•Jay Lake

for more info go to: http://noreascon4.blogs.com/live/2004/09/hugo_awards.html

Art

Epilogue has announced the list of artists to appear in the “Masters of Fantasy CD” here: http://www.mastersoffantasy.com/2004/artists.html

Website of the month

Like bad movies?

http://www.badmovies.org/