Thursday, January 27, 2005

BREAKING STAR WARS NEWS

SITH opening crawl already here
STAR WARS website reveals film's opening

The official STAR WARS website has given its fans an early treat while they count the final days remaining until REVENGE OF THE SITH opens in theaters.

The website has posted an article which, in addition to explaining how Visual Effects Supervisor John Knoll designs the opening crawl of text at the start of any STAR WARS film, also lifts the lid on what words we'll see on the big screen come May.

Episode III
REVENGE OF THE SITH

War! The Republic is crumbling

under attacks by the ruthless

Sith Lord, Count Dooku.

There are heroes on both sides.

Evil is everywhere.

In a stunning move, the

fiendish droid leader, General

Grievous, has swept into the

Republic capital and kidnapped

Chancellor Palpatine, leader of

the Galactic Senate.

As the Separatist Droid Army

attempts to flee the besieged

capital with their valuable

hostage, two Jedi Knights lead a

desperate mission to rescue the

captive Chancellor....
EDITOR'S NOTE: OH MY GOLLY!!! GIDDY GOOSE-BUMP TIME, DWEEBPALS!!!

Wednesday, January 26, 2005

OSCAR, part one

EDITOR'S NOTE: THANK YOU DWEEBPAL DREWSTER FOR TAKING OVER QOTD DUTIES YESTERDAY WHILST I WAS ROAD-TRIPPING, AND LETTING EVERYONE KNOW ABOUT THE OSCAR NOMS.

HERE'S A LISTING OF THE NOMINATIONS FOR ANYONE WHO DIDN'T SEE THE LIST ON DREWSTER'S BLOG YESTERDAY:

And the Oscar nominations are...



ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Don Cheadle - HOTEL RWANDA
Johnny Depp - FINDING NEVERLAND
Leonardo DiCaprio - THE AVIATOR
Clint Eastwood - MILLION DOLLAR BABY
Jamie Foxx - RAY

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Alan Alda - THE AVIATOR
Thomas Haden Church - SIDEWAYS
Jamie Foxx - COLLATERAL
Morgan Freeman - MILLION DOLLAR BABY
Clive Owen - CLOSER

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Annette Bening - BEING JULIA
Catalina Sandino Moreno - MARIA FULL OF GRACE
Imelda Staunton - VERA DRAKE
Hilary Swank - MILLION DOLLAR BABY
Kate Winslet - ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Cate Blanchett - THE AVIATOR
Laura Linney - KINSEY
Virginia Madsen - SIDEWAYS
Sophie Okonedo - HOTEL RWANDA
Natalie Portman - CLOSER

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
THE INCREDIBLES
SHARK TALE
SHREK 2

ART DIRECTION
THE AVIATOR
FINDING NEVERLAND
LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT

CINEMATOGRAPHY
THE AVIATOR
HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS
THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT

COSTUME DESIGN
THE AVIATOR
FINDING NEVERLAND
LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS
RAY
TROY

DIRECTING
THE AVIATOR
MILLION DOLLAR BABY
RAY
SIDEWAYS
VERA DRAKE

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
BORN INTO BROTHELS
THE STORY OF THE WEEPING CAMEL
SUPER SIZE ME
TUPAC: RESURRECTION
TWIST OF FAITH

DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT
AUTISM IS A WORLD
THE CHILDREN OF LENINGRADSKY
HARDWOOD
MIGHTY TIMES: THE CHILDREN'S MARCH
SISTER ROSE'S PASSION

FILM EDITING
THE AVIATOR
COLLATERAL
FINDING NEVERLAND
MILLION DOLLAR BABY
RAY

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
AS IT IS IN HEAVEN
THE CHORUS
DOWNFALL
THE SEA INSIDE
YESTERDAY

MAKEUP
LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS
THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
THE SEA INSIDE

MUSIC (SCORE)
FINDING NEVERLAND
HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN
LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS
THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
THE VILLAGE

MUSIC (SONG)
"Accidentally In Love" - SHREK 2
"Al Otro Lado Del Río" - THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES
"Believe" - THE POLAR EXPRESS
"Learn To Be Lonely" - THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
"Look To Your Path (Vois Sur Ton Chemin)" - THE CHORUS

BEST PICTURE
THE AVIATOR
FINDING NEVERLAND
MILLION DOLLAR BABY
RAY
SIDEWAYS

SHORT FILM (ANIMATED)
BIRTHDAY BOY
GOPHER BROKE
GUARD DOG
LORENZO
RYAN

SHORT FILM (LIVE ACTION)
EVERYTHING IN THIS COUNTRY MUST
LITTLE TERRORIST
7:35 IN THE MORNING
TWO CARS, ONE NIGHT
WASP

SOUND EDITING
THE INCREDIBLES
THE POLAR EXPRESS
SPIDER-MAN 2

SOUND MIXING
THE AVIATOR
THE INCREDIBLES
THE POLAR EXPRESS
RAY
SPIDER-MAN 2

VISUAL EFFECTS
HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN
I, ROBOT
SPIDER-MAN 2

WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY)
BEFORE SUNSET
FINDING NEVERLAND
MILLION DOLLAR BABY
THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES
SIDEWAYS

WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY)
THE AVIATOR
ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND
HOTEL RWANDA
THE INCREDIBLES
VERA DRAKE

EDITOR'S NOTE: SO...WHAT DO PEOPLE THINK? DISCUSSION? (I HAVE ACTUALLY SEEN ALL THE BEST PIC NOMS AND ALL THE BEST ACTOR AND SUPPORTING ACTOR NOMS. BUT ACTRESS AND SUPPORTING ACTRESS, I HAVE SOME CATCHING UP TO DO).

And a Passle of MOVIE News

Zemeckis to direct BEOWULF
Oscar-winning director attached to new project
Director Robert Zemeckis (THE POLAR EXPRESS, BACK TO THE FUTURE) will helm a new remake of the epic tale of BEOWULF from a script by Neil Gaiman (PRINCESS MONONOKE) and Roger Avary (PULP FICTION). Zemeckis will produce the motion picture alongside Steve Starkey and Jack Rapke, with Gaiman, Avary and Martin Shafer receiving executive producer credits. Shangri-La Entertainment is financing the movie and Sony Pictures is in discussions to distribute the picture.

The original BEOWULF poem was written at least a thousand years old and tells of a famed 6th century Scandinavian warrior that goes to battle a fearsome monster called Grendel. EDITOR'S NOTE: DIDN'T ODDBOB GO TO SCHOOL WITH GRENDEL?

Gaiman and Avary are getting paid more than $2 million for their screenplay. EDITOR'S NOTE: I HAVE CHOSEN SO POORLY IN MY CAREER....SIGH......

Amelie helps crack DA VINCI CODE
Audrey Tatou 's career gets another big break
French actress Audrey Tautou (AMELIE) has been selected to play the coveted role of Sophie Neveu in THE DA VINCI CODE movie. The film is being directed by Ron Howard (A BEAUTIFUL MIND) and Tatou will star opposite Tom Hanks in the mystery/thriller.

Neveu is a vital character in Dan Brown's book. It is the murder of her grandfather in the Louvre that begins the story, uniting the French cryptologist with American symbologist Robert Langdon (Hanks). Together the two uncover clues that hint at secrets held in the shadows of history for two thousand years.

This would be Tautou's highest profile movie role to date. She was propelled to international stardom by playing the title character in AMELIE and can currently be seen on the screen in A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT.

French actor Jean Reno has also been cast as Detective Bezu Fache. Filming is slated to commence around summer 2005 for a May 19, 2006 release.

Actor a Blackheart for GHOST RIDER
Wes Bentley to play villain
AMERICAN BEAUTY star Wes Bentley will play the villain Blackheart in the GHOST RIDER film, scheduled to start filming in February. Bentley will play opposite Nicolas Cage as Johnny Blaze, the film's tormented hero who makes a pact with the forces of darkness and becomes the bike riding Spirit of Vengeance. EDITOR'S NOTE: MAKE A PACT WITH THE FORCES OF LIGHTNESS AND YOU GET A NICE HYBRID TOYOTA.

According to Variety, Bentley got the job after buddy Colin Farrell hooked Wes up with GHOST RIDER director Mark Steven Johnson. Johnson directed Farrell in DAREDEVIL.

Cuaron examines HISTORY OF LOVE
PRISONER OF AZKABAN helmer moves to his next project
HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN director Alfonso Cuaron will make his next move helming an adaptation of THE HISTORY OF LOVE, based on a forthcoming May 2005 novel by Nicole Krauss. The tale is a bittersweet drama about a once-lost old book that mysteriously surfaces and that connects an old man searching for his son with a girl trying to find a way to dispell her mother's loneliness.

Cuaron's producer on the third HARRY POTTER film, David Heyman, will serve the same duty on the new production. Warner Bros. will release the movie.

ANCIENT DARKNESS falls at Fox 2000
Prehistoric Harry Potter
The film rights to Michelle Paver's children's fantasy book series CHRONCLES OF ANCIENT DARKNESS have been optioned by Fox 2000, with Scott Free Productions in charge of developing the new movie property. Director Ridley Scott (GLADIATOR
Paver has written six books in the CHRONCLES OF ANCIENT DARKNESS series which is set 6,000 years ago in Earth's past. The series follows a 12-year-old boy named Torak and his wolf companion battle against evil forces for the fate of the planet. EDITOR'S NOTE: WHICH SOUNDS EXACTLY LIKE HARRY POTTER. UMM...EXCEPT FOR THE 6000-YEARS-AGO THING. AND THE WOLF.The series is published by HarperCollins in North America.

While development work is only taking place on turning the first volume, WOLF BROTHER, into a film, if the film is a hit undoubtedly more will follow. Paver gets paid a quarter of a million dollars for selling the film rights to WOLF BROTHER and she'll top it off at one million if the movie is ever given a greenlight. Variety states that the author could stand to make almost $4 million dollars if all six films are produced. EDITOR'S NOTE: AND ONCE AGAIN, I HAVE TO LOOK AT THE HARSH REALITY OF MY POOR CAREER CHOICES.

Fry will be your GUIDE
Brit actor Stephen Fry will play the voice of the Book
The BBC website has confirmed that the voice for THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY has been found, and it's Stephen Fry. A self-professed fan of the Douglas Adams novels, Fry told the Beeb, "Being asked to do the voice of The Guide is like having your birthday on Christmas Day, discovering a winning lottery ticket in your stocking and having chocolate poured all over you." At least we know he's enthusiastic about his new job! EDITOR'S NOTE: AND POSSIBLY IN NEED OF MED ADJUSTMENT.

Fry has numerous credits throughout his three decade long career including a recurring role in BLACKADDER as well as roles in GOSFORD PARK, COLD COMFORT FARM, SPICE WORLD and the upcoming fantasy film MIRRORMASK.

Wahlberg could become DEPARTED
Actor in talks to join Scorsese's next film

PLANET OF THE APES remake star Mark Wahlberg is in negotiations to join the cast of Martin Scorsese's THE DEPARTED. If a contract can be reached Wahlberg will join Matt Damon and Leonardo DiCaprio in the movie, which is an American remake of the Hong Kong police thriller INFERNAL AFFAIRS. EDITOR'S NOTE: WELL ISN'T THAT GOING TO BE A POTFUL OF PULCHRITUDE OF A MOVIE?! (AND TWO OF THEM CAN EVEN ACT!)

Wahlberg would play a cop in the department of a Boston precinct that's friends with DiCaprio's character, an undercover officer knee-deep in with gangsters. Damon's character is one of the gangsters who has also gone "undercover" himself, getting inside the police department to try and find out who the mole in his criminal organization is.

Walker treks across ANTARCTICA
Blonde-haired actor cast in new Disney adventure film

He's going from racing street cars to digging out chunks of hundred-thousand year-old ice. THE FAST AND FURIOUS star Paul Walker has landed the leading role in ANTARCTICA for Walt Disney Pictures.



The film's story follows two arctic explorers who set out to locate and retrieve a meteorite from a remote part of the icy wasteland. Midway through their journey the pair have to give up their quest and head back, faced with no choice but to leave their sled dogs behind. Walker's character is a National Geographic reporter that, with the help of a rescue party, leads the way back to recover the pooches. EDITOR'S NOTE: WELL I SHOULD HOPE SO! POOR COLD DOGGIES......

The film is based on a true story. Frank Marshall is directing from a script by David DiGilio and Mike Rich.

Director sniffing around BLOOD AND CHOCOLATE
Katja Von Garnier is in talks to helm BLOOD AND CHOCOLATE, the MGM werewolf movie based on Annette Curtis Klause's young adult novel of the same title. When we first reported on this project, just about a year ago, director Sanji Senaka, but somewhere between then and when screenwriter Ehren Kruger (SCREAM 3) adapted the book Senaka fell away from the project.

Von Garnier is a German director best known domestically for her work directing the HBO movie IRON JAWED ANGELS.

Klause's book is a romance story between a 16-year-old werewolf girl named Vivian Gandillon who struggles to maintain her secret from a human boy that she is starting to fall in love with. EDITOR'S NOTE: TEEN ANGST AND FUR. GREAT.

Brad shoots for JESSE JAMES
Actor will star as the gunslinger

Brad Pitt will play the legendary bad boy of the old west, gunslinger Jesse James, in a movie based on the life and death of the outlaw. CHOPPER director Andrew Dominik will direct the movie and the screenplay will be adapted from the Ron Hansen novel THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD.

The book was optioned last year by Plan B Films, the production company owned by Pitt, Brad Grey and Jennifer Aniston, and by Scott Free brothers Ridley and Tony Scott. According to Variety, just Plan B will now make the film.

Hansen's tale will focus on the events of Jesse James leading up to his death by shooting by Robert Ford. In the years following Ford's murder of James, the gang member (who once idolized James) was wracked with guilt about killing the western icon. EDITOR'S NOTE: GUESS HE SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT OF THAT BEFORE HE SHOT HIM, HMMM?!

A Smattering of TV News(on a Wednesday)

Fox Stations Snatch 'Farscape' for Fall Launch
The Fox Television Stations Group on Tuesday agreed to run "Farscape," the top-rated show on the Sci Fi Channel from 2000 to 2004. EDITOR'S NOTE: ALL WELL AND GOOD, BUT HOW ABOUT SOME MORE NEW EPS? OR AT LEAST SOME MORE NEW MOVIES? PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE???!!!

The show is distributed by Debmar Studios and Mercury Entertainment. Fox Stations will begin to air "Farscape" in fall 2005 under the two-year barter deal. Debmar/Mercury will split the advertising time evenly with Fox, and a deal has been reached for Fox's Twentieth Television to sell Debmar/Mercury's commercial inventory.

"We are thrilled to be in business with Fox, both on the station side and on the ad sales side," said Ira Bernstein, president of Mercury Entertainment.

He said "Farscape" has also been sold to some Viacom-owned stations and that the series has been cleared in about 50 percent of the country. A source said the Fox stations are also interested in acquiring "Stargate" and "Stargate: Atlantis" and running them as a block with "Farscape."EDITOR'S NOTE: WHICH WILL ONLY MAKE THOSE OTHER TWO LOOK ALL THE PLAINER BY COMPARISON. (SORRY BECKY, BUT THE QUEEN SPEAKS ONLY TRUTH).

SPACEBALLS the TV show?
It could become an animated series

SPACEBALLS the animated television show? President Skroob would be proud.

Plans are afoot for a weekly SPACEBALLS TV program, with Mel Brooks once again deeply involved with the project. MGM TV, Berliner Film Company (a German film producer) and Brooks are all working on a plan to return to his comedic sci-fi franchise that began as a 1987 film. The funnyman will be one of the producers on the SPACEBALLS pilot episode, supervise the writing of other episodes on the series and reprise the roles of Yogurt and President Skroob. Thomas Meehan, Brooks' co-writer on the SPACEBALLS film screenplay, will also collaborate with Brooks again on the TV show, supverising the writing department and helping produce the series.

If the show becomes a reality expect the SPACEBALLS series to not just parody the genre of science fiction films and television but also fantasy works, such as THE LORD OF THE RINGS.
EDITOR'S NOTE: TIME TO TURN OFF THE TV AND GO OUTSIDE?

A green glow eminates from THE TRIANGLE
Sci Fi Channel mini-series gets go-ahead
Sci Fi Channel will indeed voyage into THE TRIANGLE. The genre EDITOR'S NOTE: THE GENRE'ISH....AHEM.... cable network has given the OK to make the six-hour science fiction mini-series and scheduled in a broadcast date of this coming December.

The show will be written by FARSCAPE creator Rockne O'Bannon and executive produced by Dean Devlin (INDEPENDENCE DAY) and Bryan Singer (X-MEN). EDITOR'S NOTE: ROCKNE O'BANNON AND BRYAN SINGER....GOOD. DEAN DEVLIN. UMM...NOT SO GOOD. (BUT WRITTEN BY, IS FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN PRODUCED BY, YES?)

THE TRIANGLE will explore the eerie reputation of the body of water known as the Bermuda Triangle, a zone of water off the coast of Florida where numerous planes and sailing vessels have disappeared without a trace. EDITOR'S NOTE: NOT TO MENTION BUNCHES OF DEMOCRAT VOTES. GIGGLE...All kinds of theories have been forwarded to explain the Triangle's loss of life, from the really out there (UFOs, rips in the fabric of time) to scientific answers, such as giant plumes of methane rising from the sea floor capable of sinking ships and switching off the engines of airplanes.

No doubt Sci Fi's TRIANGLE will take one of the more exotic angles for its explanation of the disappearances.

No cast or directors have been signed for the mini so far.

SCOOP: Details about FATHOM series surface
Men may be from Mars but there are things in the ocean from Venus
New details about the premise of FATHOM, a new science fiction series in development for NBC, have been sent to us. Originally announced last month, the network has ordered a pilot episode for the one-hour adventure series. At the time of our initial article all that was known about the show's premise was that it involved "mysterious creatures deep in the ocean."

Now we know where these creatures originally come from, and it's not from the Earth.

It turns out that the pilot will introduce us to a new form of aquatic life that's discovered by naval officers in the South Antarctic Sea and fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico. This new species has the ability to heat the surrounding water, EDITOR'S NOTE: SHOOT, ANYONE CAN DO THAT. AND MAKE BUBBLES, TOO! SNICKER....but as scientists investigate how such animals could have evolved, they make a startling discovery: the creatures are actually not from Earth but from Venus.

It turns out that the Venusian ocean dwellers are the first wave of a invasion from the second planet in our solar system. They're here to terraform our world so it will be more comfortable for other creatures from their homeworld. EDITOR'S NOTE: DOESN'T ANYONE JUST COME FOR VACATION ANY MORE?

If NBC picks up the pilot we're told that the show's creators, Josh and Jonas Pate, want to introduce long-term story arcs. So far no casting decisions have been announced.

McMahon Gets CHARMED
Australian actor Julian McMahon will reprise his role of demon Cole Turner in the 150th episode of CHARMED. McMahon joined the cast of the witchy WB show in its third season and became a regular for season four. McMahon then left CHARMED to become one of the leads in FX's hit series NIP/TUCK.McMahon, whose CHARMED character was vanquished in the special 100th episode of the series, will reprise his role in the 150th episode titled "The Seven Year Witch" EDITOR'S NOTE: FUNNY TITLE. SILLY SHOW. in which he'll mostly interact with Holly Marie Combs' character. CHARMED airs on The WB on Sundays at 8 p.m. EST.

Poor Mrs. W

No Mrs. Weasley in GOF
In an interview with The Express, Julie Walters explains her feelings on the decision:

"To be honest, I was a bit hurt not to be in it, " the affable 54-year-old tells us. "The kids love the Harry Potter films so much and I get lots of mail about it. I can understand why they've had to pare down the film as the book is so long but I am really hoping I'll be in again for the next one."

Do remember that in order to keep the length of Goblet of Fire at 2 1/2 hours, there will have to be quite a few cuts from the 734-page book EDITOR'S NOTE: AND EXPLAIN TO ME AGAIN WHY THE MOVIES HAVE TO BE SO STINGY WITH US???!!! HARUMPH...

Monday, January 24, 2005

A flurry of Harry Potter'ing

New info on HBP Deluxe Edition
A representative at Scholastic has informed us that the Half-Blood Prince Deluxe Edition will contain "a 32 page insert with the black and white art from the interior blown up to full page size." From this information we can infer that the book will likely consist of 31 or 32 chapters.

Update: HBP confirmed at 672 pagesAfter checking with our sources, we can now confirm that the 672 page count was given to both Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble by the US publisher Scholastic.We've also been in contact with Bloomsbury, but they're unable to provide us with a number of pages for the UK edition at this time. It is typically less because they use a different font. EDITOR'S NOTE: BETTER THAN FEWER THAN 672, BUT NOT NEARLY AS GROOVY AS 900. AH WELL. WE WILL READ IT SLOWLY AND SAVOR.....

JK Rowling gives birth to baby girl
CBBC Newsround is reporting that Jo Rowling gave birth to a healthy baby girl yesterday, January 23rd and "both parents are thrilled."

Richardson: HP kids 'professional and adorable'
When asked in an interview with the Manilla Bulletin what she thought about the Harry Potter kids, Miranda Richardson (Rita Skeeter) had this to say:

"They’re amazing. They are unbelievably professional and adorable. Yeah, it’s crazy, I know but yes, Daniel (Radcliffe) is just adorable. EDITOR'S NOTE: YES, YES HE IS.He loves music and they’re all a pleasure to work with."

GOF trailer coming this spring
MuggleNet reader Ryan wrote to Warner Brothers asking about when the first Goblet of Fire trailer might be due and was told "it will be hitting theatres in the States this coming spring." We've confirmed the e-mail as genuine.EDITOR'S NOTE: LIFE SURE IS GOOD.

PICTURES FROM THE 2006 GOF CALENDAR
First look at Krum, Golden Egg, and Dark MarkPictures from the 2006 Goblet of Fire wall calendar that have been posted on the publisher's web site:









Some ROTS news

More 'Revenge of the Sith' Soundtrack Info
Just before Christmas it was reported that John Williams was working on the score for 'Revenge of the sith', and once done, he'd be recording the soundtrack in February.Our anonymous source has more info:John Williams is recording the soundtrack with the London Symphony Orchestra in the first week of February at Abbey Road studios - obviously Lucas is staying over here (in the UK) for that too.

'Revenge of the Sith' Character One-Sheets
There is a rumour going round a well known UK cinema chain that Lucasfilm will be producing five character one-sheets for 'Revenge of the Sith' in two weeks time.We've been unable to confirm this, but the source reveals that they tend to release publicity materials just before a trailer is ready to be shown in cinemas.

EDITOR'S NOTE: SURELY IT AIN'T JUST ME WHO IS A-FLUTTER WITH THE BEGINNINGS OF DWEEBISH GIDDY ANTICIPATION? SURELY NOT......

Star Wars STUFF, the saga continues

Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments 2005
Just in time for Valentine's Day, Hallmark.com has posted the images of their new 2005 Star Wars Keepsake ornaments. The 2005 Hallmark Keepsake ornaments are a nice mix between the Classic Trilogy and the upcoming Revenge of the Sith film. They include 3 spaceships, two classic characters and a large sized Clone Trooper. EDITOR'S NOTE: OH ORNIE-EXPERT ANDREW....WHAT OF THE OTHER 2005 COLLECTIONS FROM HALLMARK? HARRY? LOTR?

Princess Leia - $14.95 (9th in series)Dressed in her finest from Return of the Jedi, Leia will be sure to heat up the cold winter nights around the Christmas tree. Previous figures in this series include 2004's Chewie with Threepio and 2003's C-3PO



Darth Vader - $18.95Recreating the classic scene from The Empire Strikes Back, Darth Vader makes his third appearance as an ornament. The first time being a talking ornament in 1997, followed by a 2002 version which was 6th in the Star Wars series.




Clone Trooper Lieutenant Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith - $14.95Storming their way from the battlefields on the Clone Wars are the Clone Trooper Lieutenant. These blue highlighted troopers feature the new designs for the Clone Troopers, and help bridge their eventual metamorphosis into the pawns of the Empire. This is the first large size Clone Trooper, as 2003 saw a pair of miniature Troopers.



TIE Advanced x1 and Millennium Falcon - $14.95This pair of mini ships marks the return of each to the Hallmark line. Recreating the final moments from A New Hope, the Millennium Falcon and Darth Vader's TIE x1 can be placed next to their full sized counterparts from 1996 and 1999 respectively.



Anakin Skywalker's Jedi Starfighter - $28.00What is sure to be the coolest of the 2005 ornaments is Anakin's Jedi Starfighter from Revenge of the Sith. This ship, which bridges the Episode II design with styles and shapes reminiscent of the Classic Trilogy, is the only full scale spacship available this year.



They Call Me Mello Smello
Well not really, but Mello Smello will be the manufacturer for a brand new line of stickers, temporary tattoos, and 3-D posters from Revenge of the Sith! Starwars.com has posted news about it all, plus a photo gallery of products to get you pumped for more collecting madness come April 2nd!

Soon, fans will be able to display their Star Wars excitement with a brand new line of stickers, temporary tattoos, and 3-D posters from Mello Smello. No surface will be safe from the multitude of Episode III and Classic images available -- walls, windshields, skateboards, and skin are all fair game for this great collection of stellar graphics. EDITOR'S NOTE: AND HERE'S A SAMPLING OF SOME OF THE GROOVINESS AVAILABLE SOON AT STORE NEAR YOU:







Mello Smello, who takes their name from the innovative Scratch n' Smell® stickers they launched back in 1980, specializes in prismatic stickers, temporary tattoos, holiday products, and many other printed activity items.

The Star Wars 3D lenticular posters should thrill fans with their unprecedented size and realism. "They create depth so real that you feel like you can reach right into the picture," says Scott Klingelhofer, Creative Director at Mello Smello. Among the exciting new line of 3-D lenticulars will be an exclusive Episode III edition that fans can only get from StarWarsShop.com starting February 1. Don't miss it!

Episode III Exclusives Available Feb 1 from StarWarsShop.com
On February 1, StarWarsShop.com will be offering a smuggler's stash of over 30 new in-stock and preorder items to fans along with an all new Episode III lenticular poster card. This exclusive 10 x 8-inch card, available only to customers of StarWarsShop.com, features the striking new Darth Vader product banner artwork along with the tilt-motion image of Obi-Wan and Anakin locked in their climactic duel. These will be bundled with select new products, or available for purchase separately.

In addition, all customers will receive an exclusive Topps Episode III promo card free with any purchase while supplies last. These will be available nowhere else, so make sure to stop by the shop to get yours!

What collectors can expect from StarWarsShop.com on February 1:
An extremely limited quantity of the horizontal 15'x10' Episode III teaser banners hung in theaters across the country, exclusively available from StarWarsShop.com. Because these are authentic theater-used banners, these will show a bit of worldly wear

Several new lightsabers from Master Replicas, including both the full scale and .45 scale versions of Anakin's Episode III lightsaber, and the Darth Vader's FX lightsaber from Episode V.
Hasbro's new preview figure assortment and vehicle, including General Grievous, Tion Medon, Wookiee Warrior, R4-G9, and Anakin's Starfighter

Hasbro's new Episode III Wookiee Super Soaker and Darth Tater

LEGO's new Anakin's Starfighter and TIE Fighter including Darth Vader figure with light up Lightsaber

Six new Star Wars snow globes from Encore and several new sculpted mugs EDITOR'S NOTE: OOO....MY SNOW GLOBE IS ONE OF MY PRICE COLLECTIBLES. GROOVY!

Five new Action Racing die cast cars with Star Wars styling

Three new Episode III framed pin sets

New Episode III pewter figures and keychains from Rawcliffe