"Avatar" the highest-grossing movie

"Avatar" has surpassed "Titanic" as the highest-grossing movie worldwide, giving director James Cameron a remarkable double a week before his sci-fi spectacular is expected to rack up a slew of Oscar nominations.

 Gregg Brilliant, a spokesman for News Corp-owned studio 20th Century Fox, said the worldwide box office total for "Avatar" stands at $1.859 billion, beating the $1.843 billion racked up by Cameron's romantic drama "Titanic" in 1997-1998. "Avatar" broke the record in a little over six weeks. The film has enjoyed an unbroken reign in most countries, including the United States, Canada, France, Russia, Britain and Australia. Ticket sales got an additional boost from premium price for 3-D screenings. Fox said 72 percent of worldwide sales come from 3-D engagements.

The action-adventure movie, starring Sigourney Weaver, is set in 2154 and tells the tale of a disabled ex-Marine sent to Earth to infiltrate a race of 10-foot (3-meter) blue aliens and persuade them to let his employer mine their homeland for natural resources. More than five years in the making, it was reportedly one of the most expensive films with a budget of at least $300 million, due partly to its high-tech special effects and the creation of a new language used by the extra-terrestrial Na'vi race.

Despite some industry scepticism last year, the movie was released in December to glowing reviews and went on to win the Golden Globe for best drama earlier this month.

Tom O'Neil, an awards pundit at www.TheEnvelope.com , said "Avatar" was not just a sure bet for a best picture Academy Award nomination on Feb 2, but a leading contender to win the top Oscar on March 7. It is also expected to dominate the technical categories. "It won the Golden Globe, it has conquered the global box office and it has won universal praise." "The only cliffhanger is, will the notorious snobs in the Academy finally appreciate scifi?," he said, noting that a science fiction movie has never won a best picture Oscar.     

FACTS

Elvis Presley made his first appearence on national television in 1956.

The real name of actress Whoopi Goldberg is Caryn Elaine Johnson.

Jack Nicholson has bought fellow legend Marlon Brando's old residence in Beverly Hills for the staggering sum of $5.5 million.

That Zambo -- The Apeman, which was released in 1937, sparked off the genre of Tarzan films in India.

Gunsmoke debuted on CBS-TV in 1955, and went on to become the longest-running (20 years) series on Television. 

The longest Oscar acceptance speech was made by Greer Garson for 1924's Mrs. Miniver. It took an hour.  

In 1969, Midnight Cowboy became the first and only X-rated production to win Academy award for best picture.

The Russian Imperial Necklace has been loaned out by Joseff Jewellers of Hollywood for 1,215 different films.        

The Oscar statuette was designed by MGM's art director, Cedric Gibbons, in 1928.

Walter Huston and his son John became the first father-and-son team to win Oscars as director of and an actor in Treasure of Sierra Madre in 1949.

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ACTORS FILE

Angelina Eddie Murphy is far one of the more talented comedians to ever appear on screen. He was born in Brooklyn, New York on 3 April 1961. Eddie joined Saturday Night Live as a full time member in 1980 where he had a very memorable 4 year stint. Not long after Saturday Night Live were a string of hits including Delirious, 48 hours, Raw and Trading Places, and many more.

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Top Ten - All time Scariest Movie Monsters 

1. Alien - 1979

2. Creeper (Jeepers Creepers) - 2001

3. Shark (Jaws) - 1975

4. Chucky (Child's Play) -1988

5. Pinhead (Hellraiser) -1987

6. Crawlers (The Descent) - 2005

7. Werewolf (An American Werewolf in London)

                                         - 1981

8. Pale Male (Pan's Labyrinth) -2006

9. Fly (The Fly) - 1986

10. Godzilla - 1998

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FILM WORLD

Avatar grabs top honours at Golden Globes.

Bellucci pregnant again 

Monica Bellucci is reportedly expecting her second child reports People magazine. The Italian actress is married to French actor Vincent Cassel. The couple already have a 5-year-old daughter, Deva, named after the Hindu moon godess. 

Boyle snubbed by Brit Awards. 

Beatles 'Yellow Submarine' in 3-D. 

Maguire to star in 'The Hobbit'.

Husband reminds Gwyneth of her dad: Oscar winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow married Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin because he reminded her of her late father Bruce. Paltrow says she was struck by the resemblance when she was having a chat with Madonna about love and loss.

French film voted best foreign film on the web: The French movie Kings and Queen has been named the best foreign film on the site IndieWire's annual. The film directed by Arnaud Desplechin beat out Wong Karwai's film 2046 for the top spot.

After giving birth to twins, Julia Roberts is getting set to make her acting return at a stage show for children with serious illnesses, for free.

After The Passion of Christ, Mel Gibson is reportedly set to turn Pope John Paul II's story into a Hollywood movie.

Madonna and her filmmaker husband Guy Ritchie have infuriated Catholic leaders by attending a party dressed as a nun and the Pope respectively -- at a time when Pope John Paul II is becoming increasingly frail.

Gwyneth Paltrow is returning to the movie studio, ten months after giving birth to her first child, to star in a a new in a new movie called 'Running with scissors'.. The Oscar winner vowed to take a break from making films after having daughter 'Apple' with husband Chris Martin last may, so she could enjoy being a new mom. But it seems the 32 year old is itching to get back in front of the camera and will fly out to Los Angeles from her London home to begin shooting in March.

Angelina Jolie has filed for divorce from estranged husband Billy Bob Thornton. Just a day  after revealing all about her marriage split in an exclusive interview in the pages of Us Weekly, the Tomb Raider star has decided to end her two-year marriage, citing “irreconcilable differences.” In legal papers filed in Los Angeles, Jolie is calling for sole custody of their adopted son Maddox and her total earnings during the marriage. The couple has been living in separate hotels and have not seen each other since June 3. “I’m angry. I’m sad. It’s a very difficult time,” Jolie told Us. “Something you don’t see things coming, even though they are happening. It was a real deep connection, a deep marriage, so it’s not that simple to say this or that one thing caused the problems. It’s clear to me that our priorities shifted overnight’. Thornton, through a spokesman, said of the split: It’s a sad thing”.

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Bids for celebrity cast-offs

Celebrity knickknacks command a fortune. And even cast-offs rake in healthy returns.

# In 1979, Sid Luft, third husband of the late Judy Garland, held an auction of the filmstar's personal possessions. A pair of Garland's false eyelashes was sold to a fan for $125.

# In Dallas, Texas, a two page letter written more than 100 years ago by artist Vincent van Gogh sold for $500,000 in February 1996. A collector bought it as a Valentine's Day present.

# Rosebud, the child's sled which played an enigmatic part in the 1941 Orson Welles' film Citizen Kane, was purchased by director Steven Spielberg for $55,000.

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The Bond story

My name is Bond……… James  Bond. 

I wanted the simplest, dullest name. James Bond seemed perfect :              
----Fleming

I am Fleming, the creator of James Bond, said that he created Bond as “an interesting man to whom extra-ordinary things happen.” He appropriated the name “James Bond” from the author of Birds Of the West Indies because he felt the name was “dull” and “anonymus”. In contrast to Fleming’s desire, Bond’s skill at high-stakes gambling, his
easy of knowledge of the best wines, champagnes, automobiles and cigarettes made 007

Bond & Beyond.............Filmography

Dr No

From Russia With Love

Goldfinger

Thunderball

You only Live Twice

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

Diamonds Are Forever

Live and Let Die

The Man with The Golden Gun

The Spy Who Loved Me

Moonraker

For your Eyes Only

Octopussy

A view To a Kill

The Living Daylights

Licence To Kill

GoldenEye

Tomorrow Never Dies

The World is Not Enough

Die Another Day

Oops ......... in the movie

Thunderball

While Bond was escaping from Junkanoo, the gunshot wound keeps changing legs, probably due to a reversed film during editing.

Octopussy

During the hunt, Bond runs into a giant spider web. He smashes a spider on his elbow making a big stain. Later on, you can no longer see a stain.

Thunderball

During the opening fight scene at the mansion, the Colonel throws a knife pinning Bond’s sleeve to a bookcase. Bond pulls the case down upon his opponent, yet in the following scenes his jacket sleeve is undamaged.

For your Eyes Only

When Bond and Melina roll down the hill and land on the road, the right front wheel of the car gets dented. In the following scenes it is like new.

Licence to Kill

As Bond is about to leave, after Felix’s wedding, he puts his airline tickets in his right pocket when getting out of the car. But he takes them out of his left pocket a few seconds later at the ticket counter.

Quotes

Bond: But who would want to kill me, sir?
M: Jealous husbands, outraged chefs, humiliated tailors …… the list is endless.

Girl: Hi, I’m Plenty, Bond: But of course you are.

Plenty: Plenty O’Toole.

Bond: Named after your father perhaps.

Helga Brandt: I’ve got you now,
Bond: Well enjoy yourself.

Tiffany Case: I’ll finish dressing.
Bond: Oh please don’t, not on my account.

Hugo Drax: Why did you break up the encounter with my pet python?
Bond: I discovered it had a crush on me.

Bond: That’s a nice little nothing you’re almost wearing.
Felix Leiter: I give up. I know the diamonds are in the body, but where?
Bond: Altimentary, my dear Leiter….
Bond: I think he got the point. (After shooting a bad guy with a spear gun)

Bond: Shocking!
Positively shocking! (After knocking a lamp into a bathub to electrocute a goon)

Wai Lin: They,re looking for us James.
Bond: Let’s stay under cover.

Bond :

We share the same passions. Three, anyway.

Xenia: I count two. Motoring and baccarat. I hope the third is where your real talent lies?

Bond: One rises to meet the challenge!

Did U Know?

The liquor used for Bond films was actually ginger ale for champagne; watered down coffee for whisky and pure water for Bond’s trademarked vodka martini.

Sean Connery was rumoured to wear two different hairpieces : one for love scenes and the other for action scenes.

Ian Fleming assigned the rights of each 007 film to a particular family member in his will so everyone in his family could profit  from their assigned film.

Over 2 billion people have seen a Bond film. That is two-fifth’s of the earth’s population.

Because of Bond’s sexual exploits, the Salvation Army once demanded that a shot of 007 putting on protection be included in the movies.

Timothy Dalton was approached to play the part in 1970, but turned down the producers because he was too intimidated to take over from Connery and felt he was too young to play Bond.

There was never a character of Q in Fleming’s novels; Only Q branch and Major Boothroyd.

The Scottish Bond

Sean Connery: He created the on-screen James Bond image. All it took was a smoky chem. De fur table, a cigarette and the line “Bond, James Bond”, Though he wasn’t what Fleming had originally wanted for his character of 007. Fleming later said that he couldn’t have made a better choice.

The Australian Bond

George Lazenby: It wasn’t easy being the first actor to replace Connery. George Laznby’s portrayal of Bond has been reduced to a trivia answer. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, his only Bond movie is probably the least known 
Bond film to date.

The English Bond

Roger Moore: He brought an over exaggerated comedic attitude to the role. Critics say that he never showed any emotion and often made his scenes unbelievable. He could never pull off a scene like the one in Goldfinger with Connery and the laser table

The Welsh Bond

Timothy Dalton: Dalton was praised as being the only actor to stay true to Fleming’s Bond. However, many more discredited him due to his radical change from the Bond of the films. Unfortunately, Timothy Dalton’s Bond just came 
at the wrong time.

The Irish Bond

Pierce Brosnan: Brosnan became one of the most loved and revered characters of all time. A mix between Connery’s Bond and Fleming’s. Brosnan brings with him a sense of macho vulnerability that had not been seen since the early 1970’s.

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Books

Kamasutra is enjoying a second coming. A new English translation by Wendy Doniger and Sudhir Kakar is the hottest thing on the bookshelves. The oldest textbook of erotic love offers guidelines to the art of loving. Published by Oxford University Press this book is priced at Pound 14.99.

Music

Criticised time and again for their innovative punk style, this 90s' group has stood the test of time. They borrowed the sound and style of classic UK-punk and delivered it with the spirit and attitude of the 80s' underground. And fusing 70s' classicism they worked within a familiar framework which gave them instant popularity. A collection like this confirms that they were not only popular and good, but they could have held their own against their idols. The album illustrates their songwriting diversity with hits from their four hugely popular albums: 1994's Dookie, 1995's Insomniac, 1997's Nimrod, and 2000's Warning. It also includes two new songs, the energetic Mara and the romantic Poprocks and Coke.

Through this album Cher returns to the dance floor, churning out a dozen electronic, beat-heavy tracks about heartbreak, loneliness, strength and survival. You can appreciate Cher's deep, sexy voice and the energy and attitude of the Spanish-influenced tune, Body to Body, Heart to Heart and the rapid-fire drum beats on the airy track, when the Money's Gone that spout warm sentiments and reverberating sounds to keep you going all night long. Song for the Lonely expands and includes entire nation of wounded hearts-it's dedicated "to the courageous people of New York following the terror attacks of September 11".

Former Savage Garden frontman Darren Hayes goes solo with the melodic Spin. On the song, Good Enough, Hayes confesses that he sometimes dances to the music of Britney Spears and that he loves everything Steven Spielberg has ever done. These are not surprising admissions. Savage Garden sold millions of records by keeping up with the latest trends in pop and turning out a series of romantic ballads. Hayes proposes to do exactly the same thing. To that end, he has employed Walter Afanasieff, who previously worked with Savage Garden and has handled recordings of Mariah Carey and Celine Dion, to Produce arrange, and to play nearly all the instruments on the album.

Having taken time off to give birth to her first child, Dion is back to celebrate the joys of motherhood. A new Day Has Come marks Celine Dion's return to recording, and charts the pop diva's growth as an artist and as a woman. Although Dion's songs have always been about the power of love, romantic sentiment fuels her fire this time out. As she gushes on the title song, Where there was weakness I've found by strength / All in the eyes of a boy. And Dion's passion with motherhood doesn't end there. She strikes a chord in the audience's hearts when she sings: There is no other love like a mother's love for her child. The new songs reveal a more spiritual Dion. However, she hasn't stopped singing about romance altogether, and the soaring ballad Have You Ever Been in Love, as well as her solid renditions of Nat King Cole's Nature Boy and Etta James's At Last should satisfy her hardcore fans.

Alicia Keys makes heads turn not only with her svelte looks but her powerful voice. Her debut album Songs In a Minor, is surely a collector’s item featuring the Grammy award winning single Fallin’. A talented pianist Alicia has taken modern R & B soul to a whole new level. Priced at Rs. 125.