SCI FI PI

The Hollywood Reporter has just announced the latest project from Hollywood's latest 'dynamic duo' Michael Brandt and Derek Haas, the writers of this month's upcoming bulletfest, Wanted, as well as 3:10 to Yuma. They're riding their success into the Sci Fi realm with a new project entitled, 'All Creatures Great and Small' - and, whilst you're probably thinking, James Herriot, finally on the big screen! We'll have to put your hopes for big screen adventures of kindly veterinarians to rest. It's not what you think at all.

The upcoming Batman film, The Dark Knight, may have already have won 2008's 'war of the superhero/comic book blockbusters' without firing a shot. And that's even with Wanted's suprisingly excellent reviews and Hancock's crowd-pleasing take on the genre. And WALL-E's wall to wall positive reviews and G-powered box-office in its first week of release.

The first industry preview of The Dark Knight in Los Angeles - and the word on the street is - 'something special'.

Garth Franklin, editor of the Internet's premiere 'coming up' website, Dark Horizons, has stated that it's "not a comic book movie at all - very much like Michael Mann's "Heat".

Released July 3
Starring Will Smith, Charlize Theron, Jason Bateman
Director Peter Berg
Rated M



Do not drink whiskey whilst sitting on my toilet!


If you don't have a thorough and familiar knowledge of Greek mythology, you may consider Hancock as nothing more than a wham bam popcorn movie about a superhero who's lost his self-respect. If you do however, then you'll be pleasantly surprised - because underneath the throwaway humour and dry cynicsim, the collateral damage and high octane carnage, there's a profound investigation of the human condition. Although you really do have to know what you're looking for. If you don't never mind, Will Smith and Charlize Theron supply the star power, but Jason Bateman supplies the glue for a film that takes the superhero genre away from brute strength and supervillains and into the mind and heart.

This week sees the old and the new and the new old and the old new, which is pretty cool, (and slightly bizarre) but what you'd expect, from SCI FI.

Once again our gentle viewers must endure the onslaught of the weird and wonderful world of SCI FI originals, as they continue their delightful dance across our screens. This week continues with Boo, screening on Tuesday night at 10.30pm and Wednesday at 1pm.

Boo has a great premise - a patient is trying to escape a mental institution - but he's already the dead! It's a problem, to be sure, and won't be easily resolved. Get ready for keerraaazzy fun!

The Saturn awards has just finished off it's 34th annual shindig and announced the winners of all things Sci Fi, Fantasy & Genre for 2007.

Enchanted won three Saturn Awards including Best Picture (fantasy), and Best Actress (Amy Adams). Television honors were dominated by Lost, which walked away with 4 awards, including Best Network Television Series and Best Actor (Matthew Fox). Sweeney Todd, Ratatouille, and 300 each received two Saturn Awards.

The full name for the people behind the Saturn Awards is "The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films" - and they're suitably impresseive-sounding enough to coax Guillermo del Toro to fly in from London to accept the prestigious George Pal Memorial Award for his visionary genius. Highly respected producers Robert Halmi, Sr. and Robert Halmi, Jr. received the Life Career Award for their successful body of work. Director Matt Reeves was also given the Filmmakers Showcase Award for his work in directing the Cloverfield.

We live in a world where anything is possible. Bearded men will soon be taking us into orbit. We can drink cola that is both caffeine and sugar free. Women have shiny lips, and men have hair that looks like a rooster's comb. But nowhere in the world is anything more possible than in the world of filmed entertainment.

If you can think it, it can be. And somewhere, someone has thought of putting together 'strippers' and 'zombies' - although of course, sex workers and the undead have often gone hand in hand - just go and see Frankenhooker!

In what looks to be the surprise blockbuster of the year, Hancock provides quality superhero action with a twist. That the super strong can also be the super drunk. And the super smelly. The film combines wry humour and large scale property damage in a pleasing manner - and seems to have really piqued the public's interest.

The phenomenal response in our Forum and in SPECTRUM has meant that we've had to bow to overwhelming demand and put up some completely awesome behind the scenes interviews and more from the film on SPECTRUM. Just go to the TRAILERS section, click on HANCOCK, and all the new clips will be there.

STARSHIP TROOPERS (1959)
By Robert Heinlein

In many ways, Robert Heinlein is an enigma. Along with Isaac Asimov and Arthur C Clarke, he is considered a founding father of modern science fiction, a triumvirate of both intellect and talent that has shaped the way people read and think about Science Fiction. His works span the full gamut of political and social viewpoints, and he is possibly the only Science Fiction author to have two novels win the Hugo award that stand on either end of the socio-political spectrum. as well known as he is for authoring Stranger in A Strange Land, he is equally famous for creating Starship Troopers, a book that was controversial in its day, and still creates waves of conjecture even today.

After previously posting some cool pics from the upcoming Clone Wars, we thought we'd add to the joy and post some more.

For those who don't have their ear to the ground re: everything Star Wars, The Clone Wars will be released theatrically in Oz in August, and will be a CG animated adventure set during, wait for it, the Clone Wars, so, in the Star Wars mythology, in between the second and third films of the prequel trilogy.

Creator George Lucas has sited Gerry Anderson and The Thunderbirds as his inspiration for the design of the new animated series, which looks to be an evolution from the highly stylized 2D Samurai Jack style of the earlier Clone War TV series. It still looks pretty funky though - Beowulf it ain't.

Just a heads up for all those livin' it large on the wesssieede!

Perth's first ever Supanova will be comin' atcha loud and large this weekend at The Claremont Showground, from Saturday the 28 to Sunday the 29th.

Guests include the lovely Jewel Staite (Firefly & Stargate: Atlantis), Kandyse McClure (Battlestar Galactica), the Stars of TV's Gladiators and the one and only Nichelle Nichols (“Uhura” from Star Trek - The Original Series).

Tickets are available from www.ticketek.com.au or at the door.