Guillermo del Toro drops out of directing 'The Hobbit'

does this mean he can start working on a new "Hellboy"?

By Mandi Bierly, EW.com

May 31, 2010 2:23 p.m. EDT

• Guillermo del Toro
• New Line Cinema Corporation
• Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

(EW.com) -- Guillermo del Toro will no longer direct "The Hobbit," but will continue for the next several months to polish the scripts for the two-part "Lord of the Rings" prequel alongside Peter Jackson, Philippa Boyens, and Fran Walsh. Del Toro made the announcement Sunday via the J.R.R. Tolkien fan site TheOneRing.net.
"In light of ongoing delays in the setting of a start date for filming 'The Hobbit,' I am faced with the hardest decision of my life," Del Toro said. "After nearly two years of living, breathing and designing a world as rich as Tolkien's Middle Earth, I must, with great regret, take leave from helming these wonderful pictures. I remain grateful to Peter, Fran and Philippa Boyens, New Line and Warner Brothers and to all my crew in New Zealand. I've been privileged to work in one of the greatest countries on earth with some of the best people ever in our craft and my life will be forever changed. The blessings have been plenty, but the mounting pressures of conflicting schedules have overwhelmed the time slot originally allocated for the project. Both as a co-writer and as a director, I wish the production nothing but the very best of luck and I will be first in line to see the finished product. I remain an ally to it and its makers, present and future, and fully support a smooth transition to a new director."

Batman Fans Needed For New Bat-Book!

BATMAN-ON-FILM.COM - Batman Fans Needed For New Bat-Book!

Dr. Will Brooker, Director of Research at Kingston University, London, and author of the book BATMAN UNMASKED (Continuum, 2000), is researching a new book on Chris Nolan's Batman, titled HUNTING THE DARK KNIGHT.
The book will be published by I.B. Tauris in 2012, and Will is currently in need of Batman fans to contribute their views to his study.
If you're a fan of Nolan's Batman and would like to complete a survey for the book, please contact Will at W.BROOKER@KINGSTON.AC.UK.
The book is a serious study of THE DARK KNIGHT (and BATMAN BEGINS) -- covering such topics as Nolan's authorship of the franchise reboot, the alternate reality game "Why So Serious," Nolan's movies and their relationship to comic book continuity, and the political connotations of THE DARK KNIGHT.

Dennis Hopper dies at 74

CBC News - Film - Dennis Hopper dies at 74

Actor Dennis Hopper, the Hollywood elder statesman who appeared in such classic movies as Easy Rider and Apocalypse Now, has died.
A Reuters report says the 74-year-old performer died Saturday at his home in Venice, Calif. He had been suffering from prostate cancer.
Hopper appeared extremely frail and bone-thin in recent months.
The celebrated actor, Oscar-nominated filmmaker and noted visual artist rose to fame in mid-century Hollywood as a co-star and friend to rebel icon James Dean.
For decades Hopper's career was erratic due to his unpredictable and defiant behaviour, struggles with substance abuse and reputation as a hellion. However, he eventually settled down and earned a raft of kudos for both his film work as well as for his photos, paintings and sculptures.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/arts/film/story/2010/05/29/hopper-obit.html#ixzz0pM3uivs0

Batman, The Musical

Styles of Batman

The following article is from NEWSARAMA, it's very detailed and obviously a lot of work has been put into it. I'm sure it's the most comprehensive account to the changing Bat-suit over the years, that has ever been pulished.

Some costumes are just iconic. People who have never read a comic will recognize it on first glance. It just has that staying power, so much so that changes to it are usually fairly simple and subtle. Because no one wants to mess with what works.

Someone who fits into this rare category is Bruce Wayne, AKA The Batman. Not only does this millionaire playboy wear expensive suits, but he gets to fight crime in the special cape, cowl and body armor of his nocturnal alter ego. So let’s take a look at how Batman’s standard uniform has evolved over the decades.

Batman ('nuff said)

Batman 60's Brave & Bold

Here's another video project of mine. The opening titles from BATMAN: BRAVE AND THE BOLD splice together with the original batman them music from the 60's (written and preformed by Neil Hefti)

Improv on Infinite Earths

This is one of the most original things I seen in years!!!  You will have to go to the YouTube Channel to see the other chapters in the series (7 in all)

Halloween 2009 edition of Rapid Fire Theatre's "Theatre-sports", featuring the Justice League (Superman, Batman, Robin, Wonder Woman, Zatanna, Green Lantern, Flash) versus The Legion of Doom (Lex Luthor, Bizarro, Penguin, Scarecrow, Cheetah, Gorilla Grodd) in a epic battle of improv skills - with the fate of the world hanging in the balance!

Robin, Robin, Robin, Robin, Robin

Robin, Robin, Robin, Robin, Robin & Robin

Posted using ShareThis

The above link is a great little history of ROBIN the Boy Wonder...


Dick Grayson was the first and original Robin, and also held the mantle for longest -- he first appeared in Batman comics in 1940, and continued fighting crime in red, green and yellow until 1985. (This is why he is the only person in comics who can still call himself "Dick" without anyone snickering; in 1940, "Dick" was a completely acceptable nickname for "Richard," and by the time people started using the word "dick" as slang for "penis," Mr. Grayson had been named Dick for decades already.)

Grayson is by far the most well-known Robin. Not only did he stay Robin for forty-five years, but he's also the one Robin who generally makes it into adaptations of the Batman franchise -- if you see Robin in a movie or a cartoon or anywhere outside the comics, 90% of the time it'll be Dick Grayson.

Under the Red Hood web site is Live!

The new animated Batman movie, Batman: Under the Red Hood has it's web site up and running. Check it out for lots of info and downloads! The official trailer is below. click the link to see BATMAN ON FILM'S review and opinion. 

http://www.batman-on-film.com/dccomics-on-film_BATMAN-UNDER-THE-RED-HOOD_website-live-new-pics_5-24-10.html

Batmobile

This is a cool little fan video featuring the Keaton Batmobile!! I'm not sure who the song is by, if you know, let me know! Cheers!

Bat-phone?

I found this picture when I was surfin..... because Batman needs to keep in touch too.....right?

Own a Batpod From The Dark Knight For a Mere $100,000

I would totally buy this if only I had the money (and the fact that me wife would leave with the kids if I did buy it!!! HA)
Want to own the Batpod, Batman's motorcycle from The Dark Knight? Well, this one-of-a-kind working 1:1 replica of it could be yours for a mere $100,000 or best offer. Warning: you will definitely kill yourself trying to ride it.
Luckily, they make that harder to do by shipping it with one chain removed so it won't be ridable. It isn't street legal, after all! But if you were to put that chain back on, it'd be running a "high output 650cc 4 stroke, water cooled engine with direct port nitrous injection." Of course, only one stunt driver in the world was able to handle the one used in the film, but I'm sure it wasn't that hard. Right? CHECK OUT THIS LINK, TOO!

Batman Soft Porn...

To follow up from my Batman XXX post....more fanboy fantasies come true.....

Batman 3 Villians

Now that the release date for Batman 3 (or whatever it's going to be called) is set for July 20, 2012, let the debate begin: Who will the Bat battle next?
The Joker is presumably locked up in Arkham Asylum, and while there is always a chance that director Christopher Nolan will recast the part, he might want to leave the late Heath Ledger's iconic performance as his final statement on the character and move on.

http://scifiwire.com/2010/05/your-vote-for-batmans-nex.php

Official: NBC cancels 'Heroes' -- The Live Feed | THR

Official: NBC cancels 'Heroes' -- The Live Feed | THR
In the end, given the fairly high cost of the drama, the show's consistently declining ratings and the number of new hour-longs coming to NBC next season, the network decided the UMS-produced series wasn't worth an additional season. Sources say the network is still leaving the door open to conclude the show with a special or movie.

Now bring back THE UNIT!!!! (oh wait, that's CBS...still, bring it back!!)

Jim Henson :: September 24, 1936 – May 16, 1990

Toyriffic: Jim Henson :: September 24, 1936 – May 16, 1990

RIP Frank Frazetta

RIP Frank Frazetta

 Frank Frazetta, 82, the celebrated comic artist and illustrator whose ax-wielding muscular warriors, scantily clad heroines and ferocious beasts of prey graced numerous science fiction and fantasy novels, died May 10 at a hospital in Fort Myers, Fla., after a stroke.

Iron Man alternate Ending (humour)

Batman Beyond Dr. Who

Killing time at work......new video project.

SuperHero for a day

this is a great story.....get the Kleenex ready

The Make-A-Wish Foundation are true superheroes.

Meet Electron Boy!


The Make-A-Wish foundation makes Seattle boy's dream of becoming a superhero come true. Via the Seattle Times.

Read about similar stories on the Make-A-Wish Foundation website, and if you're ever donating to a worthy cause, keep this organization in mind!

Read more: http://toyriffic.blogspot.com/2010/05/make-wish-foundation-are-true.html#ixzz0njiTVpa4

BOF's Movie News & Reviews - "IRON MAN 2" by Bill Ramey (5.5.10)

BOF's Movie News & Reviews - "IRON MAN 2" by Bill Ramey (5.5.10)

Calgary on SPACE

Check out the Space Channel's take on the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo

Confessions of an Economic Hitman-John Perkins-Part 1

BATMAN XXX

The wait is over....every Fanboys wet dream come true.............

May the 4th Be With You

Toyriffic: May the 4th Be With You
Great Video. check it out!!!

Dark Knight Sequel Gets a Release Date!

Dark Knight Sequel Gets a Release Date!  
Warner Bros. has given an official release date for a sequel to Christopher Nolan's immensely popular The Dark Knight. The third of the new Batman films is slated to hit theaters on July 20, 2012, in standard as well as IMAX theaters.

CNN likes Free Comic Book day

Unfortunately, I missed Free Comic Book Day, because of my daughter's B-Day...but next year I like that we will go to the comic shop together and celebrate (my wife rolled her eyes when I mentioned that)

CCEE part 4

Now back to the Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo.
I met Marcus To, who was somewhat shy, I thought but opened up once you got talking to him. Great sense of humour and a modest guy, and of course I had to get a couple autographs.....oh and he's a Canadian too!!!!