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Post History:
lk2fireone (0)
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| 2151-2200 of 3618 Posts | < Previous Page | 1 | 2 | 8 | 14 | 20 | 26 | 32 | 43 | Page 44 | 45 | 51 | 57 | 63 | 72 | 73 | Next Page > |
| 05-24-13 11:18am - 4231 days | Original Post - #1 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User  Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
You buy a video game. That gives you the right to play it. But now it appears that if you sell the video game, Microsoft and Sony are sticking their fingers into your wallet, and will demand a cut of the sale price. Or if you lend that video game to a friend, that friend may not be able to play that game, without paying Microsoft or Sony a fee. Welcome to the world of Cloud computing, where your video games are no longer your sole property, but the shared property of you and your financial partner, Sony or Microsoft. ========= ========= Stocks To Watch News and commentary about the stocks you need to know about today May 24, 2013, 12:35 P.M. ET GameStop’s Terrible Week, Down 17% By Sam Mamudi Videogame retailer GameStop (GME) wins this week’s Standard & Poor’s 500 wooden spoon as the biggest decliner on the index. The stock has fallen 7.8% today, and is off about 17% this week, in the wake of first-quarter earnings and news that Microsoft‘s (MSFT) forthcoming Xbox One console may charge users to play pre-owned games (or even games they’ve borrowed from friends). It’s fair to say GameStop’s latest earnings weren’t great, with sales down, and the current quarter heading for as much as a 16% drop in same-store sales. The Grapevine, Texas, company has attributed recent sales weakness to a dearth of new game titles. In response, it has been focusing on new initiatives, such as offering digital download codes to customers, refurbishing Apple (AAPL) mobile devices and selling tablets that run on Google (GOOG) Android software. As countless companies have shown (most recently Sears Holdings (SHLD)), it’s a tough time to be a bricks-and-mortar retailer. But GameStop is likely also suffering because of the action’s of a core part of its industry — namely, the efforts by Microsoft and Sony (SNE) to address the second-hand games market. The sale and resale of preowned games is “multibillion dollar business” as the Journal’s story notes, and a big part of GameStop’s revenues. But of course it also means fewer new game sales and revenue for Microsoft and Sony. It was widely expected the two would take measures to “address” preowned games for their new consoles which will go on sale later this year. And thus, Microsoft’s Xbox One launch earlier this week was overshadowed by the controversy over what it plans to do about preowned games. The latest suggestion comes today from a speculative piece on the GameSpot website: The system will reportedly work as such: consumers can trade in physical Xbox One game discs only at retailers that have agreed to Microsoft’s terms and conditions and have integrated the company’s cloud-enabled Azure preowned technology into their own. The traded in title is then registered on Microsoft’s systems as having been re-sold and the data files will be cleared from their Xbox One account. Such a system would explain Microsoft’s position that the Xbox One must “check in” with its servers once every 24 hours. Retailers are then able to re-sell the used game at whatever price point they see fit. As part of this initiative, the publisher of the game will automatically receive a cut of the sale, along with Microsoft. The rest is revenue for the retailer. While such a system may keep the second-hand games market alive and may not cause as much outrage among gamers as some people expect, it’s still likely to hurt GameStop’s margins. All of which helps explain this week’s drop. It should also be remembered that the retailer’s stock is — even after this 17% decline — up 32% in 2013 and 73% in the past year. And Wall Street analysts still like the company — it has an average rating of ‘Overweight’ according to FactSet, and a mean price target of $41.25, a 24% premium from today’s trading price. Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter yesterday reiterated his Buy rating and $49 target price for GameStop, writing: We do not expect either next gen console to block used gaming. We believe the HW manufacturers would be foolish to block used gaming on the next gen consoles because it would negatively impact trade-in credits used for purchases of next gen consoles and games. GameStop management disclosed it generates over $1 billion in trade-in credits every year, with 70% used for new games. Credits fund 17% of the total spending on new games and digital content at GameStop. In a note published this morning, Needham analyst Sean McGowan wrote: GME also believes pre-owned sales will benefit from new console introductions as the install base expands and consumers trade in old systems and software when upgrading. Regarding what impact the new consoles would have on the used game market, GME deferred to manufacturers for details, but confidently predicted it would be an active player in the used market for the new consoles. We have modestly raised our 2013 and 2014 EPS estimates, and maintain our Hold rating. In other words, the consensus seems to be that if you have faith in Microsoft and Sony not shooting themselves in the foot over the preowned games issue, GameStop is a good bet. | |
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| 05-24-13 02:00am - 4231 days | #66 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
I paid over $120 for 2 TB, and thought I was lucky. Now you get 3 TB for a cheaper price. The HDD price surge from the 2011 flood in Thailand is finally over. | |
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| 05-23-13 08:21pm - 4231 days | #6 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
I think you're right. Adding hardcore is the most obvious way of trying for a broader audience. And I think it's a natural reaction that some fans will be disappointed in the changing approach. You see a favorite softcore model doing hardcore:  But on second thought, maybe  It's the same girl, but now she's different. It's much easier to accept, if you first meet her doing hardcore. | |
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| 05-20-13 09:44am - 4235 days | #9 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
I have a great idea. Sell out to Yahoo for 40 x revenues. The insiders could make a fortune. (Even if you don't have a profit, you can sell on a multiple of revenues. And Yahoo still has billions of cash to spend.) | |
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| 05-19-13 10:28pm - 4235 days | #1113 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
I was a fan of the original Star Trek series when it was on TV back in the 1960s. But since then, I've read, from several sources, that william Shatner had a massive ego and he thought the show revolved around him, and some of his fellow castmates had a problem relating to him in real life. I guess there are a number of actors who have an enlarged ego. It shouldn't affect the way I think of the show, but it soured me on the show, in later years. I never got into the later TV editions of Star Trek, with Patrick Stewart and the others. Or the Star Trek movies. | |
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| 05-19-13 04:55pm - 4235 days | #1110 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
Iron Man 3 moves past $1 billion in worldwide ticket sales. That's billion, with a B. Domestic: $337,073,000 31.4% + Foreign: $736,200,000 68.6% = Worldwide: $1,073,273,000 In Release: 17 days / 2.4 weeks My prediction: Based on the success of Iron Man franchise, there will probably be an Iron Man 4 in the future! | |
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| 05-19-13 04:34pm - 4235 days | #2 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
Rick, you started PU/TBP in 2003, but you didn't register until 2007? I was a lurker, who dropped by the sites, without bothering to register for a while. But you have me beat by a mile. You still have the same handsome face, as always. Looking forward to the changes, even though I think PU is pretty good, as it is. PS: Will you and Khan be performing in any of these tube videos? I think that would be a strong drawing card, for the PU members.  | |
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| 05-17-13 04:51pm - 4237 days | #25 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
jberryl69, thanks for the explanation. I assumed you did a Google search, but sometimes it turns out things are even simpler. | |
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| 05-17-13 08:47am - 4238 days | #20 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
jberryl69, how did you come up with those stats? I assume you did a Google search, but I'd like to know the search terms you used in the search. I am a tyro at Google search, am often frustrated by the results returned. But you seem to be an expert, or at least someone who can find facts/data that are buried. Would appreciate any help in learning to use Google search (or any search) better. | |
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| 05-16-13 01:23pm - 4238 days | #9 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
I wasn't thinking about the business value of the PU and TBP sites when I said that most members don't put a lot of value on the raffle. Wittyguy makes some interesting points. Did the raffle increase traffic to the PU site? Or was it just a waste of resources that could be put to better use elsewhere? I personally don't belong to facebook or twitter. I guess it would be interesting to know the percentage of PU/TBP members/users who do belong to those social networking sites, or were steered by those social networking sites to become a PU/TBP user. It makes sense that hard times for porn would translate into hard times for PU/TBP. At the same time, the US is supposed to be coming out of a recession. That what I've read. And most of the PU members seem to be from the US (not ignoring Canada, or Europe, but they are in the minority). So maybe brighter times are ahead, even if it hasn't become apparent yet. Wittyguy says, I believe, that to stay relevant, you have to come up with fresh ideas. I don't really have any fresh ideas, at the momemt. But have you thought of advertising more? I guess the facebook and twitter accounts are advertising. But could you maybe get more porn sites to put a small thumbnail of PU/TBP on their preview page, with a small blurb saying something like "Passed with flying colors by the PU/TBP reviewers". That would be for sites that score 80+. In return for that type of advertising, maybe you could make some adjustment in your revenue sharing agreement. Just a thought. But even though I suspect the total number of porn members has gone down in this financial downturn, that would still put your name/sites in the consciousness of lots of paying porn users who have never heard of you. You could try to position yourself as the "Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval". | |
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| 05-16-13 08:31am - 4239 days | #3 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
I think the main reason people join and contribute to the site is the fact that they get better value for their porn money from the info they find on this site. As well as the friendly, helpful community that exists here. The raffle was nice, but hardly the main draw for this site. So I would think the site will be here forever. Because porn is a fact of life. Even though, as Denner states, our participation here can fluctuate. But this is a great place to visit. Because of the friendly, helpful staff, who found a way to aid their fellow beings in the Search of the Best Porn Sites. And the PU members, who seem to get along in helping each other on that Great Quest.  | |
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| 05-13-13 04:26pm - 4241 days | #1108 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
New Spider Man movie coming in 2014. Why is he called Spider Man? Isn't he still supposed to be a teenager? If he's a teenager, shouldn't he called Spider Boy? In the film with Tobey Maguire that came out in 2002, Spider Man was a high school student. So unless he had flunked a few grades, he was still a teen-ager. (Tobey Maguire was in his late twenties, playing a teen-ager.) So as someone who believes in Truth in Advertising, shouldn't he called Spider Boy, instead of Spider Man? Enquiring minds want to know! ---------------- ---------------- ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2′: Set Pics Reveal Paul Giamatti as a Rampaging Rhino By Bryan Enk | Movie Talk – 6 hours ago Paul Giamatti as the Rhino ... it makes us giggle every time. One of Spider-Man's most famous villains (or at least, according to writer Mike Conroy, one of his dimmest) is making his live-action feature debut in "The Amazing Spider-Man 2," and some new set photos offer the first look at the "Sideways" star as Aleksei Mikhailovich Sytsevich, aka the Rhino. Sytsevich, a Silver Age character created by writer Stan Lee and artist John Romita, Sr., made his comics debut in "The Amazing Spider-Man" #41 (Oct. 1966). A thug-for-hire for an Eastern Bloc country, Sytsevich volunteered to be the test subject in an experiment (you see where this is going, right?) that bonded a super-strong polymer to his skin, which also increased his strength and speed ... and subsequently inspired him to ram his head through walls. The Rhino was killed off in "Hulk" Vol. 2, #104 (June 196  , though his popularity earned him a resurrection, from which he went on to be a frequently-appearing character in the adventures of both Hulk and Spider-Man.Gamers will also remember the Rhino as a particularly difficult (and extremely loud) foe to defeat in Activision's "Ultimate Spider-Man" (2005), one of the villain's many video game appearances. The set pics feature Paul Giamatti without his, uh, Rhino-skin, sporting instead a black and white Adidas sweat jacket, plenty of gold bling around his neck and lots of tattoos on his forehead, chest and forearms, which probably denote some sort of gang affiliation (or were acquired while doing some hard time). As he faces off with the wall-crawler, Giamatti's Sytsevich is also behind the wheel of a semi truck -- certainly an effective tool to implement in crashing through walls if one doesn't have his Rhino-head yet. Plot details of "The Amazing-Spider-Man 2" have been kept under wraps, so it's unknown as to how the Rhino fits into this new adventure. We do know, however, that he's just one of several villains in the sequel, as Jamie Foxx is headlining the show as Max Dillon/Electro and Chris Cooper will be following in Willem Dafoe's footsteps as Norman Osborn, who's destined to become the Green Goblin at some point. Dane DeHaan is also appearing as Harry Osborn, though we assume that he'll be in "friend" mode to Peter Parker for at least the majority of the film's running time. "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" opens May 2, 2014. | |
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| 05-12-13 03:57pm - 4242 days | #616 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
eternaldesire.com The newest site in the Metart network. Edited by Staff on May 13, 2013, 11:05am (Khan: edited direct link URL) | |
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| 05-12-13 03:44pm - 4242 days | #1107 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
I rented Tai Chi Zero, a Chinese kung fu movie from Redbox for $1.20 plus tax. This is a kung fu movie with comic book elements, that's very different from your average kung fu movie. It takes a little getting used to the way the movie is shown: you get flashbacks, the real names of the actors flashing across the screen when they make their first appearance, with a snippet of what they are famous for, lots and lots of asian stars in this movie, lots of kung fu fighting (with some wire-work), some plot about a hero looking to become a kung-fu master, a lovely young Chinese girl who fights with the hero, some romantic heartbreak, and (spoiler alert), the lovely young Chinese girl is going to marry the hero at the end of the movie. And there are villains in the movie, of course. Interesting movie. I enjoyed it. | |
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| 05-12-13 03:42pm - 4242 days | #1106 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
graymane, I can tell you are a long-time Superman fan. I'm glad you were able to get these thoughts off your chest. Too much deep thinking, without ever getting a release, can gum up your body. Did you ever follow Batman as a boy? The modern version of Batman often portrays him as a tortured soul. When I first read Batman, he was a hero for the masses. But now he is considered the Dark Knight, full of anguish and remorse and blighted love affairs. | |
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| 05-08-13 08:48pm - 4246 days | #1104 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
Robert Downey says he's interested in making Iron Man 4. But "he's told the press more than once he wants to re-negotiate. Downey presumably wants a larger cut of the action, not surprising since "Iron Man 3" has already earned a word wide gross of over $680 million. But as Marvel has earned a reputation for being tight with a dollar when it comes to actor's salaries, so it's an open question how much they'll pay to keep the actor who has become synonymous with one of their most profitable characters." I read a while back that Downey was the highest paid actor in the Avengers. He was paid at least $50 million for that movie. With some sources saying his paycheck could have hit $70-$80 million from his cut on DVD and cable and whatever other profits he's entitled to. None of the other actors in the Avengers got anywhere near Downey's pay. ======================= ======================= Brother, Can You Spare $200 Million? Robert Downey Jr. and Jimmy Kimmel Launch Phony ‘Iron Man 4′ Kickstarter Campaign By Mark Deming | Movie Talk – 10 hours ago ABCDo you want to see "Iron Man 4" some day? If so, Robert Downey Jr. wants you to pony up. Well, not really, but Downey had some fun with the looming question of whether or not he'll be returning as Tony Stark when he appeared on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" Tuesday night, suggesting he might be crowdsourcing the next installment in the "Iron Man" franchise. After talking about Downey's recent international press tour for "Iron Man 4" and showing pics of him eating unusual food in China and wearing lederhosen in Germany, Kimmel asked Downey, who was in typically charming but wise-ass form, about the future of the "Iron Man" franchise. At first, Downey gave what seemed like a serious answer. "The funny thing is, you have this kind of weekend, and then instantly Monday morning, you think there's going to be the next announcement," Downey said. "But you know the economy really is weird, and I was thinking if we were going to do another one, maybe we would tentatively call it 'Iron Man 4' …" "Oh, that's a good idea! I love that title, I really do like it," Kimmel interjected. "Yeah, it seems like a logical progression," Downey replied. He continued, "But I wasn't getting a lot of support, so I decided, my buddies told me there's a Kickstarter thing. So as of now, yeah, if you want to see a sequel, please go to Kickstarter.com and put in your vote." The camera then cut to a screen grab of a mock Kickstarter page headlined "The Iron Man Fund," with a $200 million goal and the sub-headline "You can never have too many Iron Men." "Every little bit helps!" Downey shouted just before Kimmel went to commercial. The good news is, when Kimmel and Downey returned a few minutes later, they gave fans a status update on the fake funding drive. The second screen shot of the Kickstarter page revealed 800,127 backers had pledged $1.8 billion (with a B) so far, which would be what they call "fully funded." In between jokes, Downey did offer a few less comical hints about his future as Tony Stark. He spoke with admiration at how Marvel Studios had handled the series, saying, "Particularly with these superhero movies, I realized pretty early on that the audience really drives the success of the movies. That's what we've been kind of chasing, and I think Marvel's been really smart. They really include what the folks at Comic-Con think, who's really excited about this casting announcement. I think it's also really the birth of interactive entertainment in big-scale movies." And when Kimmel directly asked if Downey would make another "Iron Man" movie, the actor was unambiguous. "Yeah, it's been one of the best things in my life professionally and people really like it …" Downey said. Kimmel cut in, saying, "I think you should just beat it to death! Just 'til everyone is just sick of it! Keep going! I'd never take that Iron Man costume off. They'd bury me in it. That's how I’d go out." With a slight grin, Downey replied, "Well, that's definitely one approach." Downey's comments on Marvel and the franchise come at an interesting time for the major players concerned: Downey's contract with Marvel is up, and he's told the press more than once he wants to re-negotiate. Downey presumably wants a larger cut of the action, not surprising since "Iron Man 3" has already earned a word wide gross of over $680 million. But as Marvel has earned a reputation for being tight with a dollar when it comes to actor's salaries, so it's an open question how much they'll pay to keep the actor who has become synonymous with one of their most profitable characters. Whatever happens, Downey might just want to chat with Rob Thomas and Zach Braff about Kickstarter, just in case. | |
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| 05-06-13 06:52pm - 4248 days | #1101 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
When I was in high school, I was taught that fiction is supposed to have internal consistency. That was many years ago. Since then, movies and comic books have evolved, to where internal consistency seems to be ignored at will. That is especially true in comic book and fantasy/sci-fi. Although I think that internal consistency makes for a solid approach, I think most people don't give a hoot. They go to a movie to see amazing spectacles, gee-whiz action and explosions. | |
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| 05-05-13 07:38pm - 4249 days | #1097 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
I haven't seen Iron Man 3 yet, will probably wait for the DVD or cable. But I can easily explain what the movie was about: Making money, gobs and gobs of it. | |
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| 05-03-13 03:37pm - 4251 days | #1093 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
Where are all the comic book fans? Iron Man 3 opened yesterday, and no one has reported it here at PU. This is one of the biggest movies (in terms of box office) of the year. But the truth is, there can be a wide disconnect, between box-office success and my own personal enjoyment. And the same holds true for Oscar success. There are many movies that have won an Oscar, that I did not enjoy watching. I liked Iron Man 1. Did not enjoy Iron Man 2 as much. Tony Stark and Pepper Potts were falling in love in Iron Man 1. But in Iron Man 2, they didn't build from Iron Man 1, but seemed to start from the beginning again. Now, in Iron Man 3, from the previews, Tony Stark says that Pepper Potts is the girl he loves. So in Comic book rules or history, you don't build on what went before. Each new episode is a fresh start. You love somebody, then you like somebody, then you are madly in love, whatever. No continuity. Of course, you have to adapt to changing times. Supoerman, when I read him in the comics back in the 1950s and 1960s, would maybe kiss Lois Lane, but that was as far as it went. But then I saw a Superman movie, and it turns out that Lois Lane had a baby. And in the course of the movie, she tells Superman that the baby is his. So I guess that Superman and Lois Lane did more than just kiss. Unless it was the Immaculate Conception, where a kiss was all that was needed, to make a baby. Edit01: I believe the movie where Lois Lane has a baby, and it's revealed that Superman is the father, is Superman Returns (2006), the Bryan Singer reboot. Edit02: In the movie, Superman's son is not a baby, but a young boy. The actor who played the boy was around 5 years old, I believe. ---------------- ---------------- Forecast: 'Iron Man 3' in Line for One of the Biggest Openings Ever by Ray Subers Iron Man 3 May 2, 2013 Friday A.M. Update: Disney is reporting that Iron Man 3 earned $15.6 million from Thursday evening shows in the U.S. That's a bit lower than the midnight opening for The Avengers last year ($18.7 million). This essentially ensures that Iron Man 3 won't match The Avengers for the weekend, considering it's much easier to fill seats at 9 p.m. than at midnight. Still, the movie remains on pace for at least $150 million by the end of the weekend. The Summer movie season officially begins this weekend with Iron Man 3, which should leverage goodwill from The Avengers to generate one of the biggest opening weekends ever. Opening at 4,253 locations, Iron Man 3 is the seventh movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the first one in what's being referred to as "Phase 2" (the post-Avengers era). "Phase 1" kicked off with the first Iron Man, which surprised many when it earned $318.4 million in Summer 2008. The sequel, 2010's Iron Man 2, grossed nearly as much ($312.4 million), but was mostly considered a creative disappointment. All the other "Phase 1" movies�The Incredible Hulk, Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger�earned less than $200 million domestically, which confirms that Iron Man is by-far the favorite character among The Avengers crew. With very few exceptions, the third entry in an ongoing franchise winds up grossing less than its predecessor, no matter how well-liked the predecessor was (The Dark Knight Rises is a strong recent example of this trend). That probably won't be the case with Iron Man 3, though, because it's being perceived as a follow-up to The Avengers, not to Iron Man 2. That movie exceeded even the most outlandish expectations when it set the opening weekend record at this time last year with $207.4 million. It went on to earn over $623 million domestically and over $1.5 billion worldwide, making it the third-highest-grossing movie ever behind Avatar and Titanic. Not content to merely cruise on positive vibes from The Avengers, Disney's marketing for Iron Man 3 has been aggressive and impressive. Previews manage to heighten the personal drama for Tony Stark while at the same time showcasing some awesome action; in particular, the destruction of Tony Stark's Malibu home has been a highlight of the campaign. It's also emphasized the conflict with villain The Mandarin, and teased a climactic battle that features an army of Iron Man suits (which does unfortunately call to mind the ending of Iron Man 2). All of this has added up to intense levels of anticipation: the movie currently accounts for 93 percent of sales on Fandango and 91 percent of sales on MovieTickets.com. Iron Man 3 has already opened throughout most overseas markets, and remarkably has performed about in line with The Avengers so far. In some critical areas, it's actually playing better than The Avengers: with tons of support from the Chinese government, the movie set a new opening day record there with $21.5 million on Wednesday. The movie has already earned over $300 million overseas, and should be over $450 million by the end of the weekend. While this incredible foreign performance bodes well for its domestic debut, it would be hasty to assume Iron Man 3 can also match The Avengers here. The Avengers was a unique movie-going event unlike anything that had come before, while Iron Man 3's smaller scale puts it at an inherent disadvantage. Still, with a massive marketing push and zero competition, there's a legitimate change that Iron Man 3 tops Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 ($169.2 million) to claim the second-highest opening ever. Forecast (May 3-5) 1. Iron Man 3 - $177 million 2. Pain and Gain - $9.3 million (-54%) 3. Oblivion - $8.3 million (-54%) 4. 42 - $6.2 million (-42%) 5. The Big Wedding - $4.5 million (-41%) Bar for Success Coming off The Avengers and with the addition of 3D ticket pricing to the franchise, Iron Man 3 needs to open noticeably higher than Iron Man 2 ($128.1 million). Anything above $150 million should be considered a major success. Edited on May 03, 2013, 05:33pm | |
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| 05-03-13 01:26pm - 4251 days | #610 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
kin8tengokuDOTcom Porn site with European models, but with a Japanese flavor. Very expensive. $48/month. | |
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| 05-01-13 04:45pm - 4253 days | #2 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
The sites are trying to increase their revenues. Reputable sites don't use scams, but a lot of reputable sites do use pre-checked cross-sells. I guess the sites that use pre-checked cross-sells don't realize how many potential members find pre-checked cross-sells irritating. Also, some sites do make it harder to cancel subscriptions than normal. If it's really difficult to cancel a subscription, you could call that a scam, or an underhanded practice. | |
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| 04-24-13 12:47am - 4261 days | #1091 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
The new Superman movie is coming June 14, 2013 in the US, and Superman has a completely new look. The red pants are now gone. But he still has the red cape and the large S to cover his chest. I think this might be the most handsome superman yet! http://www.accessatlanta.com/gallery/ent...t-2013/g9Fk/#3337871 Be sure to check out the photos of the other contenders. Edited on Apr 24, 2013, 12:52am | |
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| 04-23-13 09:03am - 4262 days | #4 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
Not everyone is as nice as I am. From the web: The Little Mermaid statue has sat on her boulder since August 23, 1913, but has had a very turbulent life, with at least eight vandalism attacks. She has been dowsed in paint numerous times, had her right arm amputated, been decapitated three times, and even pushed from her rock in 2003. Fortunately, the sculptor made a mold, so the Little Mermaid's "parts" have been reattached from the original mold. | |
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| 04-23-13 09:00am - 4262 days | #3 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
Sometimes there is truth in irony. Think of how much aggression we could burn off if the United States started bombing people in Europe and Asia! Remember, not everyone loves the good old USA. We have enemies, here and abroad. But we should avoid bombing Denmark. I went there back in the 1990s, and saw the statue of the little mermaid. I remembered reading Hans Christian Andersen when I was a child. | |
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| 04-19-13 03:37am - 4266 days | Original Post - #1 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/p...e.html?tid=obnetwork Prosecutor: S. Calif. woman yelled ‘You deserve it!’ before severing estranged husband’s penis By Associated Press, Published: April 17 SANTA ANA, Calif. — A Southern California prosecutor says a jealous wife yelled “You deserve it” before severing her estranged husband’s penis with a 10-inch kitchen knife and throwing it in a garbage disposal. The Orange County Register reports (http://bit.ly/10hqAby ) a jury heard opening statements Wednesday in the case of 50-year-old Catherine Kieu, who is accused of drugging her husband’s tofu with sleeping pills and tying him to a bed before the attack. Deputy District Attorney John Christl says audio of the July 11, 2011, incident was captured by a voice-activated recorder Kieu had hidden in the bedroom. Deputy Public Defender Frank Bittar says Kieu’s severely traumatic childhood in war-torn Vietnam, including rape by her older brother, caused mental illness that bars her from a mayhem or torture conviction. ___ Information from: The Orange County Register, http://www.ocregister.com Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | |
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| 04-18-13 01:31am - 4267 days | #1088 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
I seem to remember that the TV series Lone Ranger had a silver mine, which was the source of his silver bullets. In this Lone Ranger re-make, Tonto seems to be the cool guy, or the weird one. In the TV series, Tonto was not weird or cool, just a faithful servant of the Long Ranger. | |
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| 04-17-13 04:41pm - 4267 days | #1086 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
‘The Lone Ranger’ Exclusive Trailer: Why Does He Have Silver Bullets Anyway? By Matt McDaniel | Movie Talk – 3 hours ago Even if you've never seen an episode of the old TV show, there are still three things you surely know about the Lone Ranger: he wears a mask, he has a best friend named Tonto, and he carries silver bullets. The reasons behind the first two are obvious: he wears a mask to obscure his identity, and his trusted pal Tonto is a skilled scout and valuable resource. But why on earth would someone cast bullets out of silver? Well, the upcoming big-budget movie version of "The Lone Ranger" has an explanation that is slightly different than the one from the character's origins. Check out the film's exclusive final trailer, premiering right here on Yahoo! Movies, and keep reading to learn why the Western icon needs such precious ammunition. Originally created for the radio in 1933, the Lone Ranger became a phenomenon on TV in the series that begin in 1949. As envisioned by creators Fran Striker and George W. Trendle, the Ranger lived by the highest moral standards, and he was distinct from other Western heroes in that he only ever shot to disarm, not to kill. That's where the silver bullets came in. As a symbol of purity, using silver was a reminder of the high cost that came with firing a gun. (The guy is so obsessed with the stuff he even named his horse "Silver.") For the new movie, the characters of both the Lone Ranger and Tonto have expanded backstories, and it offers a new rationale for the silver bullets. In this story, John Reid (played by Armie Hammer) is actually a lawyer who returns to his dusty hometown to take the job of county prosecutor. He believes in by-the-book law and order, which puts him at odds with his older brother Dan Reid (James Badge Dale), who is a tough Texas Ranger like their father was. After John witnesses the escape of the wanted criminal Butch Cavendish (William Fichtner), he volunteers to join Dan and his band of Rangers to hunt down Cavendish. But they are ambushed by the gang and everyone but John is killed. As it happens, though, someone else is after Cavendish: the Comanche scout Tonto (Johnny Depp). He rescues John and nurses him back to health, believing he is a great warrior sent to help him. Since Cavendish believes John died with his brother, Tonto suggests he wear a mask to hide his identity (and protect Dan's widow Rebecca, who John also loves). For Tonto, Cavendish is more than just a villain, he's a powerful evil presence. Tonto believes he is a "Wendigo," which is a cannibalistic demon in some Native American legends that can transform into or possess the body of a human. Tonto tells John Reid that being a Wendigo, Cavendish cannot be killed by normal means. Like other creatures in mythology — werewolves and vampires, for example — the purity of silver can break the evil magic, so Tonto gives the Ranger a single silver bullet. He'll only have one shot at ridding the West of this dangerous, and maybe even supernatural, criminal. Of course, getting to Cavendish is going to be its own adventure, filled with fist-fights, horse chases, and train wrecks. And since this new film is from the writers, producer, and director of the original "Pirates of the Caribbean," you know it's going to be an epic ride. "The Lone Ranger" rides into theaters on July 3. | |
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| 04-16-13 12:42pm - 4269 days | #46 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
graymane, hoping you are on your feet with a speedy recovery from your ailments. Getting old can be a bitch. | |
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| 04-16-13 09:23am - 4269 days | #11 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
I imagine in addition to greater knowledge, the girl had much greater speed, faster reflexes. So the guy's greater strength and bigger weight didn't help. Assuming, of course, that a 250 lb man would normally have greater strength than a 125 lb girl. | |
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| 04-12-13 08:51pm - 4272 days | #6 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
I think your neighbor is being too general. I'm certainly not an expert, but I would think a bigger, stronger opponent would have a definite advantage in a fight, all else being equal. From the internet: http://www.intermartialarts.com/weight-classes-in-mma Weight classes in MMA Weight classes in MMAThe weight class in MMA can vary between countries and regulating bodies, as can be seen below. Nearly all the organizations use different weight classes in Mixed martial arts events, which causes confusion between them. Although the weights classes have similar names to boxing, they are infact very different. Organizations will often adopt their own rules for weight limits, causing ambiguity in the sport regarding how a weight class should be defined. For a variety of reasons (largely historical), weight classes of the same name can be of vastly different weights. For example, a boxing Middleweight weighs up to 160 pounds, a UFC Middleweight is 185, and a Pride middleweight was 205. | |
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| 04-12-13 08:43pm - 4272 days | #5 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
Renée Richards From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Renée Richards (born August 19, 1934) is an American ophthalmologist, author and former professional tennis player. In 1975, Richards underwent sex reassignment surgery. She was denied entry into the 1976 US Open by the United States Tennis Association, citing an unprecedented women-born-women policy. She disputed the ban, and the New York Supreme Court ruled in her favor in 1977. This was a landmark decision in favor of transsexual rights.[2] | |
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| 04-11-13 01:06pm - 4273 days | #1085 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
Movie Talk ‘Star Trek’ Advance Ticket Sales Crash IMAX Website By Bryan Enk | Movie Talk – Wed, Apr 10, 2013 2:09 PM EDT Paramount Pictures People want their "Star Trek." And they want it BIG. "Star Trek Into Darkness," director J.J. Abrams' sequel to his much-beloved 2009 reboot of the long-running sci-fi franchise, has been voted the second most anticipated movie of the summer, according to a Fandango poll (the first being, of course, "Iron Man 3"). The film will make its UK debut on May 9, a full six days before the U.S. IMAX release, and advance tickets are now available for purchase. Well, they were, anyway -- until overwhelming demand crashed the IMAX website, kind of like the way the Enterprise crashes into San Francisco Bay. Advance tickets for UK IMAX screenings went on sale on Tuesday, April 9, and the IMAX site soon went offline due to having over ten times more traffic than usual. You'd think the IMAX webmasters would've learned something from last summer's "The Dark Knight Rises," which inspired an enormous increase in traffic when advance tickets went on sale that caused the Sydney and Melbourne sites to crash. But no -- Scotty gave it all she's got and the UK site went dark. "Due to overwhelming demand for Star Trek IMAX online booking is currently down," tweeted the British Film Institute (BFI). "We're doing all we can to rectify. Do bear with us." Even Paramount Pictures UK stepped in to try to contain the crisis: "To book @BFI @IMAX tickets for #StarTrek #IntoDarkness call 0330 333 7878, while their online booking is down due to overwhelming demand." The site has since been rebooted and ticket sales have re-commenced. Abrams and Paramount have been criticized for taking four years to get a new "Star Trek" movie into theaters following the enormous success of the 2009 film, which grossed over $385 million in worldwide box office. It appears that audience enthusiasm hasn't diminished at all in that length of time, and in fact seems to have increased -- there's talk that "Star Trek Into Darkness" could surpass its predecessor by a light year and go on to make over $1 billion worldwide. Audience interest has also increased due to Abrams being announced as the director of the upcoming "Star Wars: Episode VII." "Star Trek Into Darkness" will open in IMAX in the U.S. on May 15, with advance tickets now on sale. Try not to crash any sites, would ya? | |
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| 04-11-13 07:38am - 4274 days | #1084 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
I saw Hitchcock, the movie with Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren. It's out on DVD at Redbox for $1.20 (plus tax). The movie shows Hitchcock as a man with issues, but he was also a genius who created some great, entertaining movies. He also had a deep respect for his wife, and the dynamic of their relationship could be rocky, but they had an enduring partnership. I highly recommend the movie. I tried watching the movie about Hitchcock with Toby Jones, called The Girl, but couldn't finish it. I thought it was too much of a hatchet job on Hitchcock. Hitchcock might have had personal problems, but that is true of many actors and directors. The sense that I got from the Toby Jones movie was that Hitchock was a creep, which I think is too one-sided and diminishes Hitchcock's contributions too much. Helen Mirren gives a great performance as Hitchcock's wife. Made me really appreciate the skill and determination and perseverance and intelligence and loyalty of the real Alma Reville (Hitchcock's wife). | |
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| 04-08-13 01:29pm - 4276 days | #1083 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
For the older PU members, who might remember Annette Funicello from the Mousketeers or her beach blanket bingo movies. -------- -------- Annette Funicello, Original Mouseketeer & Beach Movie Staple, Dead At 70 By Mark Deming | Movie Talk – 1 hour 49 minutes ago Long before Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, or Lindsay Lohan, Annette Funicello showed a young woman could graduate from Disney roles into grown-up stardom. And Funicello proved you could do it with your reputation and charm fully intact. Annette Funicello, the star of "The Mickey Mouse Club" TV series from 1955 to 1957 who later went on to appear in several successful films for Disney and then hit the surf with Frankie Avalon in the popular "Beach Party" movies, died Monday after a long struggle with multiple sclerosis. Funicello was 70. Born in Utica, New York on October 22, 1942, Annette Joanne Funicello spent most of her childhood in California, where her parents moved when she was four. Naturally shy, young Annette took singing and dancing lessons to gain confidence, and after she was spotted at a dance recital at age 12, Funicello was invited to audition for a new television show Walt Disney was producing featuring a handful of talented youngsters. Funicello became part of the original cast for "The Mickey Mouse Club," and soon was one of the favorite personalities on the show, receiving up to 6,000 fan letters a month. During her three-year run on "The Mickey Mouse Club," Funicello was maturing from a pretty girl into a lovely woman, and Disney kept her under contract, casting her in more grown-up roles on various Disney-produced shows, including her own short-lived series, "Annette." In 1959, Funicello made her big screen debut in the comedy "The Shaggy Dog," and she appeared in a Disney adaptation of "Babes In Toyland" in 1961. However, Funicello's film career really began to click in 1963, when Disney lent her out to American International Pictures for a high-spirited teen musical called "Beach Party." It was the first of seven "Beach" movies co-starring Funicello and Frankie Avalon, in which she invariably played the pretty but nice girl who, despite various romantic misunderstandings, always ended up with Frankie at the end. While the "Beach Party" movies certainly played up Funicello 's beauty and figure, she always maintained a relative modesty; under the advice of Walt Disney, she never appeared in a bikini, always wearing a less revealing one-piece suit. Outside of the "Beach" films, Funicello maintained a busy schedule through the 1960s, appearing in youth-oriented comedies for Disney such as "The Misadventures of Merlin Jones" and "The Monkey's Uncle," as well as plenty of TV work. She also released a handful of records, and her tune "Jamaica Ska" would later become a cult favorite. [Related: Annette Funicello Filmography] In the 1970s, Funicello devoted less time to her career and spent more time with her family, raising three children with her first husband Jack Gilardi. In 1987, Annette and Frankie Avalon reunited for the movie "Back To The Beach," in which they played a middle aged couple whose kids were going through misadventures of their own; it included Annette doing a new version of "Jamaica Ska" with the punk-funk-ska band Fishbone. While doing promotional appearances for "Back To The Beach," Annette began experiencing dizzy spells, and in 1992, she announced she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. After slipping into a coma recently, Funicello passed away in Bakersfield, California while surrounded by her husband, Glen Holt, and her three children. | |
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| 04-07-13 02:07pm - 4277 days | #1081 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
I was hoping that The Host would do better. Saoirse Ronan is a fine actress. She was nominated for an Oscar for her role in Atonement when she was around 13. I thought she was fantastic in Hanna. But it takes more than just one good actress to make a successful movie. You also need a story, good writing, music, good photography, etc. None of which were in the Twilight movies. Except maybe good photography. | |
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| 04-05-13 04:39am - 4280 days | #1078 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
I used to enjoy watching Siskel and Ebert, and sometimes found their reviews useful in picking out movies that I might like to see. Since that time, since there are so many different reviews available on the Internet that you can find, I find reviews are very little help in whether I would enjoy watching a movie. Like slutty wrote, I found the scene where they use a muscle car to drag a massive steel safe over roads at high speeds fairly unbelievable. I think I even mentioned that when I wrote earlier on this thread that Fast and Furious 5 was better than I was expecting. But no one else mentioned how unbelievable it was to watch a muscle car racing around while dragging a steel safe weighing many tons. I guess we're used to seeing fantastic elements in the movies, and accepting them. After all, how many times has James Bond killed 100s of enemies in his movies, and survived against impossible odds? That's part of what makes him the hero. | |
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| 04-04-13 04:04pm - 4280 days | #1076 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
Roger Ebert, renowned film critic, dies at age 70 By Alan Duke, CNN updated 6:13 PM EDT, Thu April 4, 2013 Los Angeles (CNN) -- The last hand in the "two thumbs up" film critic team, Roger Ebert, died Thursday, two days after revealing cancer returned to his body. Ebert and Gene Siskel co-hosted the iconic review show "Siskel and Ebert At The Movies" until Siskel's death in 1999 after a battle with a brain tumor. The Chicago Sun-Times, the base of operations for Ebert's syndicated reviews, announced his death at age 70. "I'll see you at the movies," were the last word's Ebert wrote to his readers. It was published in an essay titled "Leave of Presence" on his blog Tuesday, in which he explained he was planning to slow down and reduce the number of movie reviews he wrote. "My intent is to continue to write selected reviews but to leave the rest to a talented team of writers handpicked and greatly admired by me," Ebert wrote. "What's more, I'll be able at last to do what I've always fantasized about doing: reviewing only the movies I want to review." Ebert had already lost his voice and much of his jaw after battling thyroid and salivary gland cancer. He suffered a hip fracture in December, and it recently led to the revelations about cancer, he said. Ebert started as the Sun-Times film critic on April 3, 1967, writing about 200 reviews each of those 46 years, he said. The last year however, was his most prolific. "Last year, I wrote the most of my career, including 306 movie reviews, a blog post or two a week, and assorted other articles," he said. "I must slow down now, which is why I'm taking what I like to call 'a leave of presence.'" Ebert: The critical critic Ebert, who won a Pulitzer Prize for film criticism in 1975, had a way with words and a sharp wit that is not easily matched. -- About Rob Schneider's "Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo" in 2005: "If he's going to persist in making bad movies, he's going to -- have to grow accustomed to reading bad reviews." -- Concerning Schneider's reaction to another critic who panned the film: "But Schneider is correct, and Patrick Goldstein has not yet won a Pulitzer Prize. Therefore, Goldstein is not qualified to complain that Columbia financed "Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo" while passing on the opportunity to participate in "Million Dollar Baby," "Ray," "The Aviator," "Sideways" and "Finding Neverland." As chance would have it, I have won the Pulitzer Prize, and so I am qualified. Speaking in my official capacity as a Pulitzer Prize winner, Mr. Schneider, your movie sucks." -- Reviewing "Crocodile Dundee II": "I've seen audits that were more thrilling." -- Giving no love to "Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith": "To say that George Lucas cannot write a love scene is an understatement; greeting cards have expressed more passion." Ebert: The film philosopher -- "Every great film should seem new every time you see it." -- "No good movie is too long and no bad movie is short enough." -- "If you have to ask what it symbolizes, it didn't." -- "If a movie isn't a hit right out of the gate, they drop it. Which means that the whole mainstream Hollywood product has been skewed toward violence and vulgar teen comedy." -- "I am utterly bored by celebrity interviews. Most celebrities are devoid of interest." Ebert: Remembered -- Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel: "Our whole city learned with sadness today of the passing of Roger Ebert, whose name was synonymous with two things: the movies and Chicago. In a Pulitzer Prize winning career that spanned more than four decades, thousands of reviews and countless acts of generosity to others, Roger championed Chicago as a center for filmmaking and critiques. With a knowledge of his subject as deep as his love for his wife Chaz, Roger Ebert will be remembered for the strength of his work, respected for his courage in the face of illness, and revered for his contribution to filmmaking and to our city. The final reel of his life may have run through to the end, but his memory will never fade." -- Sun-Times Media Editor in Chief Jim Kirk: "The long relationship between Roger and his Sun-Times family speaks volumes about Roger's commitment to his craft and to his fans around the world. Roger's reviews were highly anticipated by readers and the film community. Film commentary was only one of several gifts. He was a reporter first, in every aspect of his craft. He could write as eloquently about world affairs as he could on the upcoming blockbuster. Roger will be missed not only by the Sun-Times family, but by the journalism and film communities. Our thoughts are with Roger's wife, Chaz, and their family during this time." | |
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| 04-04-13 02:59pm - 4280 days | #1075 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
I wasn't a fan of Fast and Furious series. But I thought the last one, Fast and Furious 5, was very enjoyable. Even if you hadn't seen the earlier episodes. I might have seen one or two of the earlier episodes, but Fast and Furious 5 was really enjoyable: light and entertaining, easy to cheer for the good guys (who were criminals with hearts of gold). Even easy to cheer for the Rock, who was trying to put the heroes down, until he found a criminal who was just plain bad and evil. ---------------- ---------------- ‘Fast & Furious 7′ Coming Too Fast For Director Justin Lin By Bryan Enk | Movie Talk – 2 hours 57 minutes ago Sometimes you've just got to know when to step on the brakes. Longtime "Fast and the Furious" franchise director Justin Lin has announced that this summer's "Fast & Furious 6" will be his last time behind the wheel of Universal's tentpole series ... simply because he can't keep up with the studio's need for speed. Lin's departure from the franchise isn't due to bad blood but rather because he's unable to meet the studio's demands for another "Fast" installment to hit theaters as soon as possible. In fact, Universal wants "Fast 7" ready for Summer 2014, just one year after this summer's offering -- in order to make that happen, Lin would've had to prep the seventh film whilst still in post production on the sixth, an endeavor he feels wouldn't have resulted in his best work. Universal's original plan was to have "Fast 6" and "7" shoot simultaneously, though that direction was scrapped early on in development, possibly due to Vin Diesel's limited availability as he focused on his pet project, "Riddick," opening Sept. 6. Franchise fatigue might be another reason for Lin's departure. He's directed every "Fast" movie since the third installment, "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift" (2006), and the series has pretty much dominated his career ever since. Like any young director, Lin's probably ready to try something that doesn't involve Diesel, Paul Walker and tricked-out ultra-vehicles. We're not, though. "Fast & Furious 6" opens May 24, and we can't wait. | |
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| 04-04-13 12:01am - 4281 days | #1074 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
Fee-Fie-Foe-Flop: ‘Jack’ Is a ‘Giant’ Bomb For Warner Bros. By Bryan Enk | Movie Talk – 13 hours ago Warner Bros It's not a happy ending for Warner Bros. as "Jack the Giant Slayer" is the latest reason why Hollywood should maybe reconsider this whole revisionist fairy tale thing. Director Bryan Singer's mega-budget screen adaptation of the "Jack and the Beanstalk" yarn has made for that rare mega-bomb for the studio, as The Hollywood Reporter brings word that the film is on track to lose somewhere between $125 and $140 million when the dust clears. Admittedly, WB and financial partner Legendary Pictures smelled more than the blood of an Englishman pretty early on with this project, as it was pulled from a Summer 2012 release and underwent a title change ("Slayer" was swapped out for the much more malevolent-sounding "Killer"). "Jack," which opened on March 1, currently has a U.S. gross of just over $61 million and an overseas gross of about $96 million, putting its worldwide total at around $157 million. The film had a budget cost of about $200 million and marketing expenses totaling around $100 million. WB executives seemed to expect a modest box office performance domestically but were hoping to score major overseas numbers, a la "Clash of the Titans" and its sequel, "Wrath of the Titans." However, "Jack" has been slow overseas due to stiff competition from both Disney's "Oz the Great and Powerful" and Paramount's "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" ... and perhaps also due to the fact that maybe nobody wants to see a stupid Jack and the Beanstalk movie with stupid-looking CG giants. With a loss between $125 and $140 million, "Jack the Giant Slayer" ranks somewhere in-between Disney's "John Carter" (an estimated loss of $200 million or some such crazy nonsense) and Universal's "Battleship" (an estimated loss of $83 million). It could've been worse, though: at least "Jack" isn't the new "Cutthroat Island," director Renny Harlin's notorious 1995 disaster that had a net loss (with inflation adjusted) of over $147 million, which plunged Carolco Pictures into bankruptcy and effectively destroyed the pirate genre until Disney introduced us to a fellow named Jack Sparrow. "Jack" flopped, "Mirror Mirror" didn't exactly set the world on fire and Universal's "Snow White and the Huntsman" just barely made enough (overseas, at that) to warrant a sequel that seems more like a studio obligation than a response to audience enthusiasm. Maybe fairy tales aren't "the new comic book movie" after all? | |
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| 04-02-13 03:09pm - 4282 days | #6 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
Thanks for letting us know. Hoping to see him soon back at the site. | |
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| 03-31-13 06:14pm - 4284 days | #1072 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
G.I. Joe: Retaliation takes first place on opening weekend with $41.2 million. The Host, the teen sci-fi romance from Stephenie Meyer (the Twilight vampire movies) disappoints with $11 million opening. ---------------- ---------------- "G.I. Joe" sequel blasts past cavemen to win box office Reuters By Lisa Richwine and Patricia Reaney | Reuters – 6 hours ago By Lisa Richwine and Patricia Reaney (Reuters) - Action movie "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" won the weekend box office battle in the United States and Canada, fighting off competition from cartoon cavemen, a Tyler Perry drama, and an alien-possessed heroine trying to save the human race. "G.I. Joe," a sequel starring Channing Tatum, Dwayne Johnson and Bruce Willis, secured $41.2 million in domestic ticket sales from Friday through Sunday, according to studio estimates. Last week's winner, animated prehistoric adventure "The Croods," slipped to second place with $26.5 million in North America (the United States and Canada). "Tyler Perry's Temptation" landed in the No. 3 slot with $22.3 million. "G.I. Joe" opened Wednesday evening to get a jump on the Easter holiday weekend. The cumulative box office after Sunday is estimated at $51.7 million. In international markets, the movie racked up $80.3 million, for a global haul of $132 million. "The result is as spectacular as the look of the movie," said Don Harris, president of domestic theatrical distribution at Paramount Pictures. "We couldn't be happier with the result in terms of both the domestic and international box office and the response from movie goers." Inspired by a Hasbro toy, "G.I. Joe" tells the story of elite soldiers fighting the enemy organization called Cobra as well as threats from within the federal government. The sequel to 2009's "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" was slated to open last summer, but the release was delayed to convert the film to 3D. Viacom Inc's Paramount Pictures, MGM and Skydance Productions produced the sequel for about $130 million. Ahead of the weekend, forecasters predicted a domestic tally around $38 million for "G.I. Joe." Domestic ticket sales for "The Croods," a Dreamworks Animation comedy about a family of cave dwellers, dropped 39 percent from its debut a week ago. The cumulative international box office takings rose to $140.5 million. "Temptation," a departure from Perry's hit comedies, focuses on a married woman drawn to a handsome billionaire. The movie stars Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Lance Gross and Vanessa Williams. Reality TV star Kim Kardashian plays a small role and helped promote the film through TV appearances and social media. Another new release, sci-fi romantic thriller "The Host," finished in sixth place with $11 million. The movie is based on a novel by Stephenie Meyer, author of the "Twilight" vampire series that became a blockbuster movie franchise. "Host" features a love triangle centered around a young woman whose body is taken over by an alien with good intentions. The two live in the same body, first as enemies before they become friends who team up to save the human race. Irish actress Saoirse Ronan plays the lead character. Distributor Open Road Films acquired domestic rights for "The Host" for $2 million. In fourth place, thriller "Olympus Has Fallen" earned $14 million during its second weekend. The movie stars Gerard Butler and Morgan Freeman in the tale of a White House under attack. Disney's "Oz the Great and Powerful" came in fifth with $11.6 million. "G.I. Joe" was released by Paramount Pictures, a unit of Viacom Inc. "The Croods" was produced by Dreamworks Animation and released by News Corp unit 20th Century Fox. "The Host" was distributed by Open Road Films, a joint venture between theater owners Regal Entertainment Group and AMC Entertainment Inc. Lions Gate Entertainment released "Temptation." "Olympus Has Fallen" was distributed by privately held FilmDistrict. (Reporting by Lisa Richwine and Patricia Reaney editing by Jackie Frank) | |
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| 03-29-13 09:02am - 4287 days | #5 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
Maybe I'm foolish, but I've always stayed away from sites that charge $1 for age verification/membership. I thought it might be a way of harvesting email addresses or even charge card numbers. Since I already get more spam than I can almost handle, I've never joined any sites that ask for age verification. | |
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| 03-27-13 10:23am - 4289 days | #1071 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
Here's the real movie we have been waiting for, even more than the Independence Day ripoffs: G.I. JOE: RETALIATION. This movie opens this Friday (two days from today): Can you wait for the slam-bam action spectacular? ................ ................ Film review | G.I. Joe: Retaliation – Daft toys for boys and spectacular action, man! Posted on 27 March 2013 by Jason Best G.I. JOE: RETALIATION - Channing Tatum as Duke & Dwayne Johnson as Roadblock Furiously loud and even more furiously dumb, G.I. Joe: Retaliation proudly flaunts the spectacular daftness we’ve come to expect from action movies based on toys and games. There’s a new director in charge for this sequel – Jon M Chu replacing G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra helmer Stephen Sommers – but we immediately know we’re in safe hands when the opening scene sees a gung-ho team of elite soldiers, the GI Joes of the title, conducting the stupidest stealth mission ever. They’re infiltrating North Korea on a rescue sortie but obligingly tip off the border guards to their presence with a spot of snazzy sharpshooting that ensures the opposing team gets to play too. Back on home soil, Channing Tatum’s Duke and Dwayne Johnson’s Roadblock indulge in a couple of scenes of bromantic banter to establish that the GI Joes are, well, ordinary joes. Further episodes of gunfire, explosions and muscular derring-do swiftly follow. When the dust settles, it’s possible to make out the semblance of a plot. G.I. JOE: RETALIATION - Adrianne Palicki plays Lady Jaye and Bruce Willis plays Colton An evil impostor from terrorist group Cobra has replaced the US president (Jonathan Pryce) and it’s only a handful of GI Joes – Roadblock, Lady Jaye (Adrianne Palicki) and Flint (DJ Cotrona) – who can prevent nuclear Armageddon. Bruce Willis pops up to help. The original Joe, he emerges from retirement with his armour-plated smirk and an arsenal of weapons that would out-gun a small country. Most of the ensuing action is routine, but in the middle of the movie there is one scene that is truly jaw dropping. GI Joes Snake Eyes (Ray Park) and Jinx (Elodie Yung from District 13: Ultimatum) abduct renegade Storm Shadow (Byung-hun Lee) from a Himalayan cliff-top monastery and zing and ping down the mountain on zip lines while fighting off hordes of red-suited ninja warriors. The sequence is bonkers and exhilarating. And if you’re watching in 3D, you’ll spend half the time ducking in your seat as yet another chunk of rock or hurtling body whizzes towards you. The filmmakers are clearly chuffed with the scene, so chuffed they even give it a round of applause, cutting the instant the action wraps to the clapping that greets a presidential speech. You’ll probably want to clap too. In cinemas from Wednesday 27th M | |
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| 03-26-13 11:59pm - 4289 days | #1070 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
Finally, the movies we have all been waiting for, will now be coming. Independence Day Part 2 and Independence Day Part 3 are in the planning stages. Who will save the world this time? --------------- --------------- More Alien Mayhem: Two ‘Independence Day’ Sequels Announced By Mark Deming | Movie Talk – 7 hours ago If a movie is a solid hit, the studio usually sets up a deal for the sequel in a matter of weeks. But it's been nearly seventeen years since "Independence Day" became a box office blockbuster, and confirmed beyond a doubt that Will Smith was bankable star. Director Roland Emmerich has taken a while to get to work on a follow-up, but now he's making up for lost time - he's announced that not one but two "Independence Day" sequels are in the works. Emmerich, who caused all sorts of mayhem in Washington D.C. in "Independence Day," is doing it again this summer when his thriller "White House Down" opens on June 28 (by which time, Emmerich and Columbia Pictures are probably hoping you've forgotten all about "Olympus Has Fallen"). While doing press for "White House Down," Emmerich spoke a bit about the upcoming "ID4" sequels, "ID Forever Part I" and "ID Forever Part II." Emmerich's statements suggest the long gestation period for the sequels has been built into the story, which will take place about two decades after the events of the first movie. By this time, word from the alien invaders has gotten back to their home planet, and knowing that their advance force has been defeated, another band of ill-mannered spacemen are on their way to conquer the Earth. "We've rebuilt," Emmerich said. "But (the aliens) also do different things." "The humans knew that one day the aliens would come back," Emmerich said. "And they know that the only way you can really travel in space is through wormholes. So for the aliens, it could take two or three weeks, but for us that's 20 or 25 years." Emmerich also mentioned the invaders may be fighting against their own technology. "It's a changed world," he said. "It's like parallel history. (Humans) have harnessed all this alien technology. We don't know how to duplicate it because it's organically-grown technology, but we know how to take an antigravity device and put it in a human airplane." And while some of the heroes from the first movie will be back, expect plenty of new heroes as well. "It's still some of the same characters, but also new younger characters; it's a little bit like the sons take over," Emmerich said. One thing Emmerich didn't say is how many of the characters from the first movie will be played by the same actors. Bill Pullman is said to be on board, but there's no word if Will Smith will be returning (Smith is still a bankable star, while Pullman is a regular on the sit-com "1600 Penn" these days). And Emmerich may still be fiddling with the script: reportedly, the director and Dean Devlin (who co-wrote "ID4") have finished screenplays for the two pictures, but James Vanderbilt, who wrote "White House Down," has been brought in for a rewrite. Once the smoke clears following the release of "White House Down," solid information will probably surface, but Emmerich has made it clear that after more than a decade and a half, the aliens are coming back to the nation's capitol, and they'll be no happier than they were the first time. | |
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| 03-22-13 08:52am - 4294 days | Original Post - #1 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
I used to be able to play Amazon movies on my PC using Firefox browser. Then, for the last few months, I got an error message if I wanted to play an Amazon movie, saying I probably needed to update my flash player. I could not play an Amazon movie using Firefox. I tried to update my flash player (from Adobe), but that didn't help. But I discovered that I could still play an Amazon movie using Microsoft IE. Today, for some reason, I tried to play a movie from Amazon with Firefox. And it worked. I can now play movies from Amazon with Firefox. Am I happy? No. Why not? Because I now hold a grudge against Firefox, Amazon, and my PC, for all the times I tried to play an Amazon movie, and couldn't. Fuck them all! | |
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| 03-20-13 06:54pm - 4295 days | #1067 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
Not really movies, but some TV series I have enjoyed watching lately. Justified, with Timothy Oliphant. A cop show. On FX channel. The Americans. Spy show. FX channel. Banshee, Crime show. Cinemax. -------------------------------- Upcoming TV series returning for new season: Game of Thrones. SF/Fantasy series. HBO. Magic City. Crime series. Starz. | |
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| 03-20-13 06:42pm - 4295 days | #2 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
He was a legend. Or at least a famous name. Smeared by association for his participation in porn. The article makes him sound like a nice, regular person. He offered help to Linda Lovelace, even after she testified against him in a porn trial. | |
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| 03-20-13 04:57pm - 4295 days | #10 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
Like RB, I am no ubergeek, but I would assume that there is some setting in your firewall or antivirus or operating system setting that is preventing you, in general, from access an "adult" site. I assume that some of these programs have some internal switch that controls access to "adult" sites and content. If the switch is closed, meaning the computer system is set to block access to adult content, it's not really the fault of the computer or the operating system, but how they are set to run. Can you ping the reality site yourself with a DOS window, to see if the site responds? Use Google for instructions on how to do that. As long as the site is up and active, the DOS window should return a positive Ping. I'm guessing that Microsoft itself, due to company policy, would have some blocking system that stops access to "adult" sites, and that might have influenced the tech's attempt to Ping the site. | |
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| 03-13-13 09:55am - 4303 days | #3 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
I mainly use Firefox. It seems simple to use. Very rarely I use IE, if Firefox is giving me a problem. I can't stream or play movies at Amazon.com using Firefox. I used to be able to, but then Firefox stopped playing/streaming movies at Amazon several months ago. I tried to update the Flash player, but that didn't help. But I can play/stream Amazon movies with IE. | |
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| 03-13-13 12:49am - 4303 days | #5 | |
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lk2fireone (0)
Active User Posts: 3,618 Registered: Nov 14, '08 Location: CA |
There have been certifiable cannibals in the past. Serial killers. It's not just in the movies. | |
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