The tiny hobbit-like humans of Indonesia may have lived in Australia before they became extinct about 11,000 years ago. The startling claim comes from archaeologist Mike Morwood, leader of the team that uncovered remains of the 1m-tall hominid at Liang Bua cave on Indonesia’s Flores island in 2003. [More]
Month: December 2005
It’s a snowbound land, full of mythical creatures, that is entered through the back of a wardrobe. But for New Zealand, Narnia is a lot more than just the setting for a new Hollywood movie. It’s the chance to generate another big series of movies to follow the phenomenon that was The Lord of the Rings. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, based on a classic children’s novel by C. S. Lewis, has been made by the director Andrew Adamson (who also made Shrek and Shrek 2) on a reported budget of $US150 million ($200 million). It centres on four children who accidently enter Narnia then join a battle between an evil witch and a god-like lion. [More]
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa has bumped a New Zealand art exhibition aside to make way for a money-spinning Lord of the Rings repeat, in a deal secured with a highly unusual payment. Filmmaker and aviation enthusiast Peter Jackson agreed to a second six-month exhibition on the condition the museum located and bought for him a vintage Sopwith Camel airplane engine. Te Papa spokesman Peter Brewer said a deal on an engine found somewhere in the northern hemisphere should be settled by Christmas. The engine cost “a fraction of the amount” the museum would otherwise have had to pay Jackson in licensing fees, he said. It is understood Te Papa paid trilogy backers New Line Cinemas up to $500,000 for the first Rings’ exhibition in 2003. The studio had since signed over the licensing rights to Jackson. [More]
BENBELLA BOOKS UNLEASHES THE ULTIMATE KING KONG ANTHOLOGY THIS NOVEMBER
King of Skull Island is Back on the Big Screen…and Ripping up the Pages of a New Anthology
Extra, Extra! After 30 Years, King Kong is Still One Angry Ape!
KING KONG IS BACK! AN UNAUTHORIZED LOOK AT ONE HUMONGOUS APE!
BEFORE YOU SEE THE MOVIE, EXPLORE THE PAGES OF NEWEST ANTHOLOGY FOR CONVINCING EVIDENCE OF KONG’S ENDURING LEGEND
King Kong—love story, horror film, exotic adventure tale—is back on the big screen after an almost thirty-year absence, just in time for the King of Skull Island to influence another generation. From the 1933 black-and-white Cooper/Schoedsack classic to the badly received 1976 De Laurentiis remake, to the new vision brought to life by Peter Jackson, the essayists in KING KONG IS BACK! explore the great ape’s unprecedented appeal and the film’s impact on our cultural imagination. Edited by bestselling author David Brin, KING KONG IS BACK! is sure to provoke provocative and oftentimes hilarious new insights on the legend of Kong, the evolution of film and the impact of one big ape on our society.
CONTRIBUTORS & TOPICS INCLUDE:
· Pop culture guru Natasha Giardina, in an essay entitled “Queer Eye for the Ape Guy?,” discusses King Kong’s dating issues, his uncanny similarities to Homer Simpson and why, in these metrosexual times, we need Kong more than ever
· Fantasy author John Wright on how King Kong tells us every thing we need to know about our civilization…although we may not like what we learn
· Primatologist Dario Maestripieri describes the first monkey studies of human behavior, gorilla genitalia and how King Kong is really a chimp
· Science fiction author Adam-Troy Castro speculates on what would have happened if they never went back for Ann Darrow
· Artist Bob Eggleton revels how the magic was created, and hypothesizes on the fate of the upcoming Peter Jackson film
PUBLICATION DETAILS KING KONG IS BACK! AN UNAUTHORIZED LOOK AT ONE HUMONGOUS APE!
- Editor: David Brin
- ISBN: 1-932100-64-4
- Pub. Month: November 2005
- Retail: $17.95 (US)/$24.95 (CAN)
- Publisher: BenBella Books
- Cover: Trade Paperback
ABOUT THE EDITOR:
David Brin is the New York Times bestselling author of The Postman and the Kiln People. He resides in San Diego, CA.
EDITORIAL NOTES:
December 14, 2005 is the international theatrical film release of Universal Pictures’ King Kong, directed by Lord of the Rings’ Peter Jackson and starring Naomi Watts, Adrien Brody, Jack Black and Andy Serkis.
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King Kong Is Back! : An Unauthorized Look at One Humongous Ape! (Smart Pop series) (Paperback)
Garfeimao writes: Here is a Quick ORC update for all you Ringers attending, or thinking of attending.
1) There WILL be a Costume Contest, but I’m still polishing up the details, expect rules and registration info to be posted very soon on that.
2)We’ve just announced that the cast of “Fellowship” will be joining us on Saturday night during the Awards show. Many of you have seen this Musical Parody of The Fellowship of the Ring, and many others have only heard about it. Now, you’ll get to see select excerpts from this brilliantly funny show.
3) And finally, I’d like to remind you aspiring artists out there about our Iron Artist Compentition. This will be a fun event with the added bonus of allowing you to really test your skills at pure creativity in action. Please read on to see how to enter.