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June 21, 2006 - July 16, 2006

Sunday, July 16, 2006

Free Shipping Offer for 'Dork of the Rings' - Xoanon @ 11:15 PST
Tim Richardson, Director of "The Dork of the Rings" writes: Save money and be one of the first Dorkers to receive a copy of THE DORK OF THE RINGS which goes on sale to the rest of the world at GenCon on August 10. Pre-order by August 1 and get the 2-DVD set for $20.00 and pay NOTHING for postage. NADA. ZERO. ZILCH. So what do ya think of them apples?

Order online at rpstudios.net now or send a check or money order made out to Richardson Productions to the address at the bottom of the page. All orders must be received by August 1. This offer is for continental U.S. orders only.

Besides the 100-minute feature-length film, the DVD set will include:

Please allow up to 2 weeks for delivery. First mailings will go out after August 1.

Send check or money order to:

Richardson Productions
26065 Kirkland Drive
Edwardsburg, Michigan 49112

Orders MUST be received by August 1st to qualify for the pre-order.

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Exclusive Fine Art Lord of the Rings Release - Xoanon @ 19:34 PST
Leslie from artinsights sends this along:

LORD OF THE RINGS FINE ART COLLECTION NOW AVAILABLE

America's most collected cinema artist John Alvin pays homage to Lord of the RIngs film trilogy

Reston, VA - Famed cinema artist John Alvin, who has created art for over 130 movie campaigns including E.T., Star Wars, and Young Frankenstein, has just released the first limited editions created for a new exclusive collection representing images from the Lord of the Rings trilogy. This is the first time ever this classic film phenomenon has been captured in fine art limited edtions. They are available at ArtInsights Animation and Film Art Gallery, and can be seen on their website at www.artinsights.com.

Mr. Alvin is excited to take on this endeavor., “When I first experienced Peter Jackson’s Masterwork, the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, I was compelled beyond any possible resistance to be swept along in its tide of adventure and to be lost forever in its timelessness, its bittersweet beauty and its artistry. The entertainment industry could not possibly have produced any greater inspiration and it was one I had only previously felt from the brilliant George Lucas Star Wars saga."

"We're so excited to add Lord of the Rings limited editions to the art we offer by Mr. Alvin," says Leslie Combemale, co-owner of ArtInsights, "We carry John Alvin's originals, and this will offer a whole new set of clients the possibility of owning highly collectible art by one of the best cinema artists around. We can't think of anyone better to create artistic interpretations from these new classic movies" ArtInsights will be hosting a one man show with originals and limited editions by John Alvin starting September 15th, and Mr. Alvin will make an appearance the opening weekend. The show will include mixed media and graphite images from movies like Star Wars, Star Trek, Wizard of Oz, Batman, Lord of the Rings, and Beauty and the Beast, for which there will be a new limited edition premiered at the show. Adds Ms. Combemale, "We're thrilled, though not surprised by how quickly John's work has developed such a following. For years his biggest collectors were the directors of movies he created posters for, like George Lucas and Mel Brooks. With these new limited editions, even more people will be exposed to his art, which will only further increase his popularity."

John Alvin has been working as an illustrative artist in the film industry for over 30 years. He came into prominence by creating the art for the poster for Mel Brooks' Blazing Saddles in 1974. He went on to create art for many films including E.T, which won the Hollywood Reporter Key Art Awards grand prize, and is the only movie art honored with the Saturn Award from the Academy of Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Films. He has created more images for Spielberg films than any other single artist, including art used in the posters for "Empire of the Sun", "The Color Purple", "Always", "Jurassic Park", and, of course, "E.T". He has also created a lot of specialized work for George Lucas and the "Star Wars" saga. Mr. Alvin's "Star Wars Concert" and "Star Wars Tenth Anniversary" posters are among the most collectible Star Wars art on the market today. Additionally, the Smithsonian Museum exhibited Alvin's "The Phantom of the Paradise" as one of the best posters of the 20th century. Truly John Alvin belongs to a very short list of cinema art masters whose works have become icons in Hollywood's history.

ABOUT ARTINSIGHTS

ArtInsights, established in 1994, is a privately owned gallery located in Reston Town Center, in Virginia. They have great success with the addition of cinema art to their specialization of creating and developing collections of animation art from Disney, Warner Brothers, Hanna Barbera, and all other major studios. With more than 30 combined years of experience in the animation art field, owners Michael Barry and Leslie Combemale work closely with individuals and corporations to ensure the integrity of their collections. In addition to being one of only 10 Chuck Jones Signature Galleries in the country, ArtInsights is Virginia's only animation gallery and is the only gallery in the Washington Metropolitan area authorized to represent Warner Bros. and Hanna Barbera animation art to the public. They also have exclusive rights to sell original illustrative art by Harry Potter book cover artist Mary GrandPre.

Monday, July 10, 2006

DVd Tuesday: Marilyn Hotchkiss, Blackbeard, Negadon & More! - Xoanon @ 10:30 PST
Marilyn Hotchkiss Ballroom Dancing and Charm School: Robert Carlyle is a widowed man who agrees to fulfill a dying man's (John Goodman) last wish and attend a very special ballroom dancing class, which changes his life in more ways than he could ever predict. The film is a bit clumsy and juggles far too many stories, but its heart is in the right place and it features an impressive cast (including Marisa Tomei, Mary Steenburgen, Sean Astin, Danny DeVito, Donnie Wahlberg, Adam Arkin, Sonia Braga, Ernie Hudson and Miguel Sandoval, among others). Features widescreen and fullscreen versions on the same disc. The disc also features Randall Miller's original 1990 short film Marilyn Hotchkiss Ballroom Dancing and Charm School. Details: Color, 104 mins, Sony Pictures, Widescreen anamorphic, 2.40:1. Supplements: Audio commentary; Short Film: Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School (1990); Full screen and widescreen presentation . Audio: English (Dolby Digital 2.0). Optional subtitles. [Order]


National Geographic: Blackbeard - Terror at Sea: Go inside the cunning mind of a charming criminal genius as National Geographic tells the dramatic story of this fearsome pirate who preyed on Caribbean trade routes. Blackbeard: Terror at Sea charts the exploits of Englishman Edward Teach, an intelligent and charismatic leader who confounded the powers of England and Virginia as he overtook and pillaged 40 ships in two years, stealing hidden cargo and precious exports to and from the Caribbean. Featuring sea chases, cannon battles and swordplay Blackbeard: Terror at Sea provides an exciting dramatization of one of the most notorious men in American history. [Order]


Negadon - The Monster From Mars: A returning spaceship crash-lands on the streets of Tokyo, unleashing a deadly cargo: Negadon, a giant, vicious monster from Mars! Now, only Dr. Narasaki and his long-abandoned robot Miroku can save the Earth. It's giant robot versus space monster for the fate of all mankind. [Order]


Pitch Black (Unrated) [HD DVD]: Owing a major debt to Alien and its cinematic spawn, Pitch Black is a guilty pleasure that surpasses expectations. As he did with The Arrival, director David Twohy revitalizes a derivative story, allowing you to forgive its flaws and submit to its visceral thrills. Under casual scrutiny, the plot's logic crumbles like a stale cookie, but it's definitely fun while it lasts. A spaceship crashes on a desert planet scorched under three suns. The mostly doomed survivors include a resourceful captain (Radha Mitchell), a drug-addled cop (Cole Hauser), and a deadly prisoner (Vin Diesel) who quickly escapes. These clashing personalities discover that the planet is plunging into the darkness of an extended eclipse, and it's populated by hordes of ravenous, razor-fanged beasties that only come out at night. The body count rises, and Pitch Black settles into familiar sci-fi territory. What sets the movie apart is Twohy's developing visual style, suggesting that this veteran of B-movie schlock may advance to the big leagues. Like the makers of The Blair Witch Project, Twohy understands the frightening power of suggestion; his hungry monsters are better heard than seen (although once seen, they're chillingly effective), and Pitch Black gets full value from moments of genuine panic. Best of all, Twohy's got a well-matched cast, with Mitchell (so memorable with Ally Sheedy in High Art) and Diesel (Pvt. Caparzo from Saving Private Ryan) being the standouts. The latter makes the most of his muscle-man role, and his character's development is one more reason this movie works better than it should. [Order]

Monday, July 03, 2006

DVD Tuesday: The Libertine & The Matador! - Xoanon @ 10:05 PST
The Libertine: "You will not like me," promises the powdered and wigged Earl of Rochester (Johnny Depp) with a decadent aristocratic sneer and a rascal's dare in the film's opening scene. He's right. More than just a real-life high society bad boy, the darkly seductive and aggressively debauched poet and court wit is a hedonist and a misanthrope who thrives on stirring up controversy. He's a favorite of Charles II (John Malkovich) for the very same traits that finally makes him a liability to the crown. And he is largely without any redeeming qualities, even when he takes on a raw young actress (Samantha Morton) as his protégé. This being Johnny Depp, he defiantly resists all impulses to make him the least bit likable, which makes the film something of an ordeal as we watch him drive himself into an early grave. Stephen Jeffreys adapts his own play and Laurence Dunmore directs. Details: Color, The Weinstein Company/Genius, Widescreen anamorphic, 2.35:1. Supplements: Commentary by director Laurence Dunmore; "Capturing the Libertine" making-of featurette; 10 deleted scenes; Trailer. Audio: English (Dolby Digital 5.1). Optional Spanish and English subtitles. [Order]


The Matador: Pierce Brosnan, dressing down with a gray-salted brush-cut, a perpetually scruffy shave and a crude mode expression, is a seedy assassin (or "facilitator of fatalities," as he likes to say) who strikes up an unlikely friendship with a meek American businessman (Greg Kinnear) in a Mexican bar after his latest job. Six months later, the assassin shows up at Kinnear's middle class home, shares his life story with Kinnear's fascinated wife (Hope Davis), and asks for help on one last job… Richard Shepard's oddball crime thriller has a jagged, dark humor that Brosnan plays perfectly and a moral ambiguity that never quite tips in one direction or another. You might say it's a buddy film with a body count and a flexible code of ethics. Philip Baker Hall co-stars. Available in separate widescreen and fullscreen editions. Details: Color, 97 mins, Weinstein Company/Genius, Widescreen anamorphic, 2.35:1. Supplements: Commentary by director/writer Richard Shepard; Commentary by Richard Shepard with actors Pierce Brosnan and Greg Kinnear; 11 deleted and extended scenes with optional commentary by Richard Shepard; "Making The Matador" featurette; Audio-only "The Business and the Treatment" radio program discussing The Matador; TV spot; Trailer. Audio: English (Dolby Digital 5.1). Optional Spanish and English subtitles. [Order]

Sunday, July 02, 2006

Unique Jens Hansen Gold & Silversmith LOTR Ring - Xoanon @ 10:53 PST

Unique Jens Hansen Gold & Silversmith LOTR Ring

Halfdan Hansen writes: Here is a picture of Ring #24 from the Limited Edition of 100 faithful Sauron sized rings from Jens Hansen Gold & Silversmith - Creators of the World's Most Famous Ring. The Ben Franklin shows the scale of the ring and alludes to the fact that this is one 'precious' that only 100 people on the planet will ever have the pleasure of owning. But there's something else special in this photo.

The regular Limited Edition Ring is a faithful replica of the ring made for Sauron's armoured gauntlet in the film. It is made from 18ct gold plated sterling silver. Ring #24 is different. Specially commissioned by an East Coast telecoms entreprenuer and personal friend of Liv Tyler, #24 is so named because it is created from pure 24 carat fine gold - hence the 0.999 (99.9%) marking. Weighing in a just over 120 grams, six times heavier than the ring we made for Frodo to wear. More pictures and info here.

Customers around the world have already bought more than 1/4 of the 100 limited edition Rings, and personal feedback we receive is that the simplicity and balance of the design and the Ring’s tactile energy is what most attracts them. It is exciting for us to have been able to give people the ability to choose their own numbered One Ring, to either wear and treasure themselves, or to gift to family and friends.

If you haven’t had a chance to hold The One Ring you are welcome to visit our workshop in Selwyn Place for a caress, or you can view or order from our website www.jenshansen.com. It is truly beautiful.

Monday, June 26, 2006

DVD Tuesday: Madea, Annapolis, Ultraviolet & More! - Xoanon @ 19:52 PST
Madea's Family Reunion: Tyler Perry dons the muumuu once again to play the outspoken, larger than life family matriarch Mable "Madea" Simmons in the screen adaptation of his play, and this time the writer/actor takes the directorial reigns as well. The pistol packing grandma plays ringmaster and referee to a chaotic family reunion, where she lays down the law and provides a few life lessons in time for a big clan reconciliation. Blair Underwood, Lynn Whitfield, Boris Kodjoe, Henry Simmons and Keke Palmer co-star with Maya Angelou, Jenifer Lewis and Cicely Tyson. Available in separate widescreen and fullscreen editions. Details: Color, Lionsgate, Widescreen anamorphic. Supplements: Director Commentary; Deleted Scenes; The Making of Madea's Family Reunion; Marriage Madea Style; Gayner Plantation; Making the Music; Trailers. Audio: English (Dolby Digital 5.1) and English (Dolby Digital 2.0). Optional Spanish and English subtitles. [Order]


Find Me Guilty: Sidney Lumet's highly entertaining look at the bigger-than-life trial that turned into the longest criminal trial in U.S. history stars Vin Diesel as a fun loving, hard partying small time mob lieutenant who represents himself at trial. His mix of class clowning and street-level straight talk is engaging, even if it's mired in the romance of goombah loyalty and crime family ties. Lumet's laid-back professionalism and Diesel's big-hearted performance give it an affable buoyancy: the story runs on pure Diesel. Peter Dinklage, Linus Roache and Ron Silver co-star. Details: Color, 124 mins, 20th Century Fox, Widescreen anamorphic, 1.78:1. Supplements: "Conversations with Sidney Lumet" featurette; Trailer and TV spots. Audio: English (Dolby Digital 5.1). Optional Spanish and English subtitles. [Order]


Caché: (France) Michael Haneke's provocative thriller, which plays on fears even more insidious than direct threats of violence, stars Daniel Auteuil and Juliette Binoche as a successful professional couple terrorized by a series of videotapes (which are delivered wrapped in crayon drawings of children and blood) that simply show their home under surveillance. The quietly unnerving thriller digs into a disturbing reality of race and class relations and entitlement while consistently shifting our point of view and uneasy gaze and leaving the "threat" ambiguous. Winner of the Best Director prize at Cannes in 2005. Details: Color, 118 mins, Sony Pictures, Widescreen anamorphic, 1.78:1. Supplements: Documentary on director Michael Haneke; Behind the scenes of Cache. Audio: French (Dolby Digital 5.0). Optional Spanish and English subtitles. [Order]


Imagine Me & You: Radiant bride Piper Perabo locks eyes with a stranger on her wedding day and falls in love -- with another woman (Lena Headey) -- in Ol Parker's lightfingered British romantic comedy. It's otherwise fairly conventional, right down to the compulsory colorful crew of friends and family, but the company is cordial, the script witty and Perabo is engaging. Matthew Goode and Anthony Head co-star. Features both widescreen and full-screen versions on a flipper disc. Details: Color, 93 mins, 20th Century Fox, Widescreen anamorphic, 2.35:1. Supplements: Commentary by director/writer Ol Parker; Deleted and extended scenes with director's commentary; Q&A with director and cast; Personal statement by director Ol Parker; Features both widescreen and full-screen versions. Audio: English (Dolby Digital 5.1) and Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.1 Surround). Optional Spanish, French and English subtitles. [Order]


Failure to Launch: Matthew McConaughey is the commitment-shy 35-year-old bachelor who has never found the need to move out of the nest, much to the frustration of his parents (Terry Bradshaw and Kathy Bates), in the romantic comedy directed by Tom Day. Sarah Jessica Parker is the date bait who has built a business out of luring overgrown housekids out of the house and winds up falling for this smug slacker. Zooey Deschanel, Justin Bartha and Bradley Cooper co-star. Available in separate widescreen and fullscreen editions. Details: Color, 96 mins, Paramount, Widescreen anamorphic. Supplements: "Casting off: the Making of Failure to Launch" featurette; "The Failure to Launch Phenomenon" featurette; "Dating in the New Millennium" featurette; Moviefone.com Unscripted with Matthew McConaughey and Terry Bradshaw; The Failure to Launch Contest; Theatrical trailer. Audio: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround) and French (Dolby Digital 5.1). Optional Spanish and English subtitles. [Order]


Why We Fight: Eugene Jarecki explores the power of the military-industrial complex to influence foreign policy through a sobering history lesson that leads up to the invasion of Iraq. The title refers to the series of propaganda documentaries produced by Frank Capra during World War II, when the question wasn't so divisive. Jarecki has an agenda and the film is part polemic, but it's a provocative documentary on foreign policy and the growth of war into America's biggest business. Details: Color, 99 mins, Sony Pictures, Widescreen anamorphic, 1.78:1. Supplements: Commentary by director Eugene Karecki and Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson; Extra scenes; Extended character featurettes; Audience Q&A with filmmaker; Filmmaker TV appearances: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and Charlie Rose; Theatrical trailer. Audio: English (Dolby Digital 5.1) and . Optional Spanish, Portuguese and French subtitles. [Order]


Annapolis: James Franco plays the lone wolf working class guy who enrolls in the Annapolis Naval Academy in this rehash of "An Officer and a Gentleman," served up with a side of "Rocky" (yes, he's also an amateur boxer). Tyrese Gibson is the Marine veteran turned senior Midshipman who is determined to wash him out and beat him in the climactic boxing match. Jordana Brewster and Donnie Wahlberg co-star and Justin Lin ("Better Luck Tomorrow") directs. Available in separate widescreen and fullscreen editions. Details: Color, 104 mins, Touchstone, Widescreen anamorphic, 1.85:1. Supplements: Deleted scenes with optional audio commentary; "Plebe Year: The Story of Annapolis" featurette; "The Brigades" - An in-depth look at the boxing sequences, including training, choreography and camera techniques. Audio: English (Dolby Digital 5.1). Commentary by director Justin Lin, writer David Collard, editor. Optional Spanish, French and English subtitles. [Order]


Ultraviolet: Kurt Wimmer's slick sci-fi actioner takes place in a future where a plague has created an entire subculture of vampires (they're called Hemophages, but it's the same thing). Milla Jovovich is vampire warrior who becomes protector of a boy (Cameron Bright) whose blood may carry a cure, and is thus marked for death by the fascist government who would rather just wipe them all out. Nick Chinlund and William Fichtner co-star. Available in separate PG-13 (theatrical) and unrated editions, the latter featuring 7 minutes of additional footage. Details: Color, 94 mins, Sony Pictures, Widescreen anamorphic, 1.85:1. Supplements: Commentary by actress Milla Jovovich; "UV Protection: Making Ultraviolet" featurette; Unrated, Extended Cut features 7 minutes of footage unseen in theaters. Audio: English (Dolby Digital 5.1). Optional French and English subtitles. [Order]


Evil: (Sweden) An abused teenager (Andreas Wilson) is sent to a prestigious private school to protect from a violent stepfather, only find an even more harrowing situation where the upperclassman brutalize the rest of the school and the teachers silently condone it all. Mikael Håfström directs. Details: Color, 110 mins, Magnolia, widescreen, 1.78:1. Supplements: Deleted scenes; "Making of: The Truth Behind Evil" featurette. Audio: Swedish (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo). Optional Spanish and English subtitles. [Order]

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

New LOTR DVDs Due This August? - Xoanon @ 13:59 PST
Nine Finger Frodo writes: I wanted to report you this. Rumours have been going on lately about a new release of all 3 movies and with new material as well as new behind the scenes material. It's suggested that these will come out THIS AUGUST!

''The folks over at Home Media Retailing have received details on new releases of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy. The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King will each arrive in newly packaged two-disc “Limited Edition” sets, along with an exclusive new behind-the scenes documentary. Each set will carry both the theatrical and extended versions of the film (via seamless branching), while disc two features an intimate, never-before-seen documentary created by Costa Botes.

The feature-length documentaries, with more than 300 minutes of never-before-available footage, focus on a number of complexities and circumstances and affected the making of the movies. The discs will be available to own from the 29th August, priced at around $28.98 a piece. Stay tuned for further details.'' [More]


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