Snake steals Cannes limelight

Mon 17 May 2010

Indian actress Mallika Sherawat got up close and personal with a massive 22ft python as she promoted her latest movie at the Cannes Film Festival.

The fantasy/thriller Hisss is based on the Far Eastern myth of a snake woman who is able to take on human form.

Directed by Jennifer Lynch, Hisss also stars Irrfan Khan, Divya Dutta and American character actor Jeff Doucette.

Sherawat's movie Love, Barack, is also being presented at the festival. The romcom is set during Barack Obama's campaign for the US Presidency.

http://web.orange.co.uk/article/film/mallika-sherawat-hisss-cannes

Jack Black Hunts Bigfoot, Loch Ness Monster With New Animated Movie

December 7, 2009
By: Bryan Enk

Jack Black -- from 'Kung Fu Panda' to the Loch Ness Monster?

Black recently scored big in the world of animation with his turn voicing the title role in 'Kung Fu Panda,' and now Variety reports he'll return to 'toons with a new animated film pitch. The untitled project takes place in the world of cryptozoology, which deals with the search for such creatures of lore as the Loch Ness Monster, the Jersey Devil and Bigfoot.

The script was written by Jason Micallef, with Black producing with his Electric Dynamite partner Benjamin Cooley for Illumination Entertainment, the family-based unit of Universal Pictures. As of right now, Black will only be producing and will not be providing a voice for one of the characters.

Jack Black is certainly no stranger to hunting down larger-than-life creatures, having captured a giant ape in Peter Jackson's 'King Kong' in 2005. Previous animated adventures include voice work in both 'Shark Tale' and the first 'Ice Age' movie. Black is also set to reprise his role in the sequel 'Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom of Doom.'

http://www.moviefone.co.uk/2009/12/07/jack-black-bigfoot-loch-ness-monster-cryptozoology/

(Submitted by Oll Lewis)

Vampires not good role models for Catholics, declares Vatican

Deplores use of 'extremes' to make a point

By Joe Fay
20th November 2009

The Vatican has come out against vampirical toothy teen book'n'movie series Twilight, dismissing the epic girl loves vampire, girl loses vampire, girl becomes vampire cycle as a "deviant moral vacuum".

The Holy See's attempt to drive a stake through the heart of the burgeoning film franchise came as it took £1.8m on its opening day in Italy.

It was down to Vatican in-house mag Osservatore Romano to deliver the verdict on the movie.

According to the Daily Mail Monsignor Franco Perazzolo, of the Pontifical Council of Culture, said: "Men and women are transformed with horrible masks and it is once again that age-old trick or ideal formula of using extremes to make an impact at the box office.

"This film is nothing more than a moral vacuum with a deviant message and as such should be of concern."

The Mail added that a spokespriest said the film gives a "mixture of excesses aimed at young people and gives a heavy esoteric element."

The attack on the series - incidentally the creation of a Mormon - demonstrates the Vatican's eclectic approach to film reviewing.

The Vatican had long condemned the Harry Potter series, claiming it would corrupt impressionable young children and turn them onto the occult, or at least onto the English boarding school system. Then, it turned around and praised the film version of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince for its sharp delineation of good and evil.

Likewise, the Vatican had a long-running downer on Dan Brown and The Da Vinci Code - understandable perhaps given its rather anti-Vatican stance. Then, earlier this year, it faint-praisedly damned Angels and Demons as "quite harmless".

So, standby for the current condemnation of Twilight to subtly transubstanitate into polite praise for its portrayal of a young girl's spiritual journey from vampire lover to loving vampire wife and back into the arms of the one true faith. Or something. ®

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/11/20/vatican_twilight/

(Submitted by Timothy Hodkinson)

Guinea Pigs Get Into Guinness Record Book

10:45pm UK, Friday July 31, 2009

An elite team of guinea pigs has set two new records for the Guinness Book of World Records.

The world record for the fastest run by a guinea pig was won by two-year-old Flash, who conquered the 10 metre red carpet track in 8.81 seconds.

And the world record for the longest jump by a guinea pig was set by Diesel who leapt 20.5 centimetres between two set points.

The stunt was set up to mark this weekend's release of Disney’s new film G-Force, a film about guinea pigs.

The stars of the comedy are guinea pigs who are trained as spies by government agents.

It has been brought to the big screen by producer Jerry Bruckheimer, well-known for his CSI stable of TV shows.

Meanwhile, the furry friends' real life stunt took place in central London and at least one onlooker was impressed.

"It was brilliant watching them set the records," said Katie Rellis, eight, from Rainham in Kent. "Flash was my favourite - I couldn't believe how fast he was!"

Bill Nighy, one of the stars of the film added: "Trust me, these guys have serious G-Force."

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Strange-News/Guinea-Pigs-Put-The-G-Force-Into-The-Records-Ahead-Of-The-Disney-Film-Release/Article/200907415350886?f=rss