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| Folding Cutting Board Mark Sanders, 1989 Chop foods on this multi-purpose cutting board and then fold it into a chute to transfer ingredients without spills. Made of polypropylene. Dishwasher safe.   |
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Sony on Friday scored a key win by luring Time Warner Inc.'s Warner Bros. to its Blu-ray technology, putting itself in a position to triumph over Toshiba Corp.'s HD DVD after a years-long fight to become the standard for the next generation of DVDs.
However, Sony's push for Blu-ray -- which analysts estimate as an investment of hundreds of millions of dollars -- has cost the company in areas such as the key videogame market.
Many analysts believe that Sony's insistence on putting Blu-ray on its PlayStation 3 players gave it just enough extra consumers to help tilt next-generation DVD sales toward Blu-ray. Paul Erickson, analyst at the NPD Group's DisplaySearch research firm, calls it the "X factor" that "saved their Blu-ray fortunes." If Toshiba had underwritten the cost of putting HD DVD onto the rival Xbox 360 from Microsoft Corp., the reas
They may get all the attention but mainstream songstresses make us tired and sleepy. Paris may have the looks but she's absolutely devoid of natural talent. Mariah Carey has the voice but she's fallen off in the sex appeal department. Britney is a trainwreck these days and while Beyonce has the total package, we respect Jay-Z too much to ogle her; besides, he'd totally kick our ass if we did. So we thought it was high time we celebrated some sexy and talented women who are a feast for both the eyes and the ears! Join us as we countdown the 8 Sexiest Sirens of Indie Rock!
The only thing that could potentially keep Kori Gardner, one half of the awesome Mates of State, of our list is the fact that she's happily married to her bandmate, drummer Jason Hammel. And while it's wrong to ogle another man's wife, especially considering how obviously in love they are-go see them live and you'll see what we mean-there's no denying that Kori still qualifies as for our list. She's not only hot but she also packs enough energy to bring the house down. Who the hell knew that the organ could be such a rocking instrument?
We're not big fans of the helmet shaped haircut that Karen O normally wears on stage and her outfits, while funktastic, are have just a little too much personality for our tastes. But there's still no denying that the energetic leader of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs deserves a place on our list. While she tends to hide her face away, there are moments when her vibrant smile and attractive features come into view. But her true strength lies in her unique voice and boundless energy. We're willing to bet that dating Karen O is like riding a rollercoaster: you strap yourself in and go on the ride of your life.
While we love her for her music, our infatuation with the lead singer of indie darlings Rilo Kiley began when in our adolescence, when we first saw her starring opposite Fred "Kevin Arnold" Savage in the awesomely bad movie "The Wizard." But rather than take the low road, as most child actors tend to do, Jenny Lewis is riding high on the success of her music. And while she's matured into a certified hottie, our inner 12-year olds will always think of her as the spunky and cute Haley.
If we had to describe the haunting beauty of Feist and her music with a single word, we would have a tough time choosing between 'sophisticated' and 'vulnerable.' So we'll just mash to the together and call her 'sophistinerable.' Or would 'vulneristicated' be better? Either way, Feist lands on our list of sexy sirens because she's, well, hot and she can sing. What else do we have to say?
Judging from the photos that we could find, Regina Spektor isn't very tall. We're guessing she stands no taller than 5 feet. We could be wrong and really, it doesn't matter, because her diminutive frame packs a voice strong enough to reach the highest rafters. Her quirky songs and quirkier demeanor make her shine and easily earns her a spot high up on our list.
Whether she's singing alone or as part of indie rock group, The New Pornographers, Neko Case is as red hot as her hair color would suggest. Armed with a powerful voice and a sophisticated charm, Neko Case is the kind of girl that your mother will love and that your friends will drool over.
The enigmatic Cat Power catapults to the top of our list thanks to a sultry voice, a beautiful face and an undeniable stage presence. There is no doubt that Chan "Cat Power" Marshall has both the voice and the beauty to easily win the top slot in our little countdown. Just watch her video for "Lived In Bars," and you'll have all the proof you need. Now, if she'd just say yes to our marriage proposal...
by Emily
If you’re a fan of botanical architecture, this might just be the coolest building ever. Architects Minsuk Cho and Kisu Park of Mass Studies designed this flora-clothed multi-level building to house Belgian fashion designer Ann Demeulemeester’s store in Seoul, South Korea. The building was completed in October 2007 and takes green roofs and living walls to another level, using foliage to cover both the external and internal wall surfaces. We love that it looks as if the building is growing up from underneath the greenery, blurring the lines between plants as ornamentation or structure.
On a site located in an alley near Seoul’s rapidly transforming Gangnam district, the building stands as a green marvel, three floors tall, housing the Ann Demeulemeester shop on the first floor, a restaurant above, and a Multi-Shop in the basement. The designers, Seoul-based Mass Studies Architects, wanted to incorporate as much nature as possible into the building within the constraints of a low-elevation, high-density urban environment.
The building is defined through the convergence of natural and artificial, interior and exterior, rather than demonstrating a stark contrast between the dualities. If you’re wondering what those green species are, it’s primarily a geotextile planted with an herbaceous perennial to form the living walls.
+ Mass Studies Architects
+ Ann Demeulemeester
Via Contemporist
To comment on this story, send an e-mail to Bob Kealing.
Video: More Bombs, Pits Discovered At OMSVideo: 400 Pounds Of WW-II Era Munitions ExplodedVideo: Constructed Halted Near Bombing RangeVideo: Parents Concerned After More Explosives Found On School GroundsVideo: Some Parents Deem OMS Unsafe For Their ChildrenVideo: Forum Held To Discuss Bombs FoundVideo: Fence Constructions Begins At OMSVideo: Documents: Disctrict Knowingly Built School On Bomb Range
Imagine entire islands and vast building complexes eerily abandoned virtually in your own back yard. This seemingly far-fetched scenario might be more real than you realize. Complexes of more than 150 buildings and even small islands are located near the heart of major cities such as Houston and Washington DC. You may know these 70 Wonders of the Ancient World
Baltimore, Maryland has a number of interesting abandonments, but none so sizable and prominent as Fort Carroll. Over a century old, this for was constructed in the middle of the 19th century though it never saw war. In WWII it was briefly used as a firing range for the Army and a checkpoint for ships, but has been abandoned ever since. Developers have failed to find uses for it and it has since become a habitat for numerous animals and the site of occasional urban explorations.
Brooklyn, New York is home to one of many now-abandoned institutions for the mentally ill. The Kings Park Lunatic Asylum was established in 1885 and grew from a few wooden buildings into a vast complex of over 150 stone and brick structures housing over 9,000 patients. Uses included a power plant, railroad spur and theater and more. Currently only two of the buildings are still active, and there are no solid plans for redevelopment as just cleaning up the land would cost $80 million.
Mineral Wells, Texas is home to a grand old abandoned hotel with the first Olympic-size swimming pool in the United States. Opened nearly 80 years ago, the 14 story Baker Hotel had visits from celebrities including Judy Garland, Clark Gable, Roy Rogers, The Three Stooges, Bonny and Clyde, Helen Keller and even Ronald Reagan before closing its doors. As per a strange promise made to the public, the hotel’s founder Earl Baker closed the hotel on his 70th birthday. The hotel was auctioned and reopened under new ownership but in the late 1960s Baker had a fatal heart attack (strangely enough) in his own grand hotel’s Baker Suite. The hotel closed shortly thereafter for good, leaving behind only pictures of this wonder.
Washington, DC is known for many things, but relatively few know about the National Park Seminary which sits on its outskirts. The first buildings on the campus were built in the late 1880s, starting and an inn and followed by bars and gambling. More structures were added as the site became a finishing school for girls before the complex was converted to a military hospital during WWII. Though they are currently still abandoned as shown in the photographs above, developers plan to turn these unique buildings into housing units in the near future.
Houston, Texas was one of numerous locations where the Malibu Grand Prix entertainment company set up a theme park a few decades ago. The complex included mini-golf, boat and go-kart racing as well as video games and other entertainment. Two Grand Prix locations in close proximity were abandoned quite recently in part due to a scandal which erupted when three employees of were accused of murder (two of whom received the death penalty) and these photos do not do the locations justice.
Provo Canyon, Utah features some amazing natural wonders including Bridal Veil Falls - a 600 foot waterfall. The world’s steepest aerial tram was built in the 1960s to connect visitors to the top of the falls but was destroyed over a decade ago in an avalanche. With the closure of a local tourist train route, there was insufficient incentive to rebuild the tram which has been left to decay along with the eerily vacant tram buildings at both top and bottom as shown in the images above.
Minneapolis, Minnesota sits on the Mississippi River and was historically a center for mill work based on its banks. Starting in the 1930s, however, Minneapolis lost its position as the wheat and wood milling center of the United States. Many now-inactive mills sit idle despite occupying amazingly valuable property in the middle of the city. Today, some of these mills have been turned into museums that can be visited while others are simply closed to all but the most intrepid urban explorers.
Want More? Check out These Other Amazing Wonders of the World:
7 Abandoned Wonders of America
7 Abandoned Wonders of the World
7 Deserted Wonders of the World
7 Underwater Wonders of the World
7 Underground Wonders of the World
7 More Underground Wonders of the World
7 Island Wonders of the World
7 Engineering Wonders of the World
The Sighting: We can't have one of these Alienware curved monitors until the second half of this year, but until then, we've been abducted by its four nearly seamless and sharp screens of DLP goodness. Lit by LEDs, this 2880x900 monster is well over three feet wide and is said to have an other-worldly .02ms response time, great for gaming. The Soylent Green: You can see the seams between this monitor's four segments, but the Alienware humanoids tell us that flaw will be gone by the time this craft lands on Earth. The blacks look a bit washed out to our eyes, too. Price is yet to be determined.
Scientists have identified a key mechanism necessary for bird flu to morph from a rare but deadly infection into a pandemic that could kill millions of people.
MIT scientists reported in Sunday's issue of Nature Biotechnology that the shape of certain structures in the virus could be key to allowing it to easily pass from human to human. In birds, the shape of the structures match the shape of sugars in the animals' respiratory tracts, allowing the infection to easily latch onto the animals. In humans, those shapes don't match up -- but if the virus morphed so they did, it could lead to a pandemic.
"We’re like a sitting duck, waiting for an H5N1 virus that can attach to us," said Richard Cummings, an Emory University biochemist and influenza cell specialist who did not participate in the study. "This research moves us to the point where we can start anticipating what might happen."
By Rob Beschizza 
The world is getting hotter and more crowded every day, and modular, prefab housing is just what the doctor ordered. When you go small, it's not just about energy efficiency and carbon footprints -- it's also about being strange, cool and beautiful. We've chosen our favorite houses that meld style with globally conscious living. Enjoy. (Please include your own picks in the comments section.)
Crick Waters is an easy man to get ahold of. Vice president of strategy and business development for Mountain View, CA, startup company Ribbit, Waters can make all his phones ring at once, be they landline, Internet based, or cellular. Answering one phone will make the others calm, as Ribbit's SmartSwitch technology notifies each device that the call has been picked up. Waters plans to release Ribbit to the general public early this year, offering consumers flexible phone numbers that will work smoothly with multiple devices, and allowing developers to build features that work with all three types of phone.
"There's nothing more powerful than actually seeing a telephone call come in that you can answer on Google Talk, you can answer on Skype, you can answer on an iPhone, or in a Web page," he says.
CEO Ted Griggs says that Ribbit will make it easier to stay in touch: a user can specify how she wants to be contacted through Ribbit, and she can choose to have calls routed to all of her devices so that she never misses a call. (A Ribbit user can place a call to any type of telephony device, whether or not the recipient uses Ribbit, so long as she has contact info.) Ribbit also makes it easier for a user to take advantage of stand-alone phone features, such as a service that allows him to check voice mail through a Web page, by providing developers with a means for building new features that work with other popular offerings, and with various devices.
The software behind Ribbit is modeled after the design of carrier-grade switches that currently handle "the last mile" of phone service, explains Griggs. Rather than routing calls between networks, phone companies use these types of switches to deliver calls to residential and business phones and turn on features for them. Ribbit's software was built to communicate with traditional phones, mobile phones, and a variety of voice over Internet protocols (VoIPs). Like the switches after which it is modeled, Ribbit's software, says Griggs, has capability for 911 calls, is robust enough to survive damage to some individual elements, and can be enabled with common features such as call forwarding and call waiting.
New methods to reprogram adult cells could create novel models of disease.
Scientists at George Daley’s lab at Children’s Hospital Boston are using new methods to reprogram adult cells to develop stem-cell lines from patients. These cells can then be used as models to study disease. Daley, who is affiliated with the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, is shown here (right) with postdoctoral student In-Hyun Park.
Credit: Jon Chase/Harvard News Office
Last November, two groups of scientists announced that they had independently achieved one of the stem-cell field's biggest goals: the ability to reprogram adult cells into embryonic-like stem cells without the need for human embryos. (See "Stem Cells without the Embryos.") The findings garnered extensive media attention, largely because the new method obviated the need for human embryos, a major ethical minefield that has stymied research.
But scientists at stem-cell labs around the world are excited for another reason. The technique creates cells that are genetically matched to an individual, meaning that it's now possible to create novel cell models that capture all the genetic quirks of complex diseases. "Being able to have human cells with human disease in a dish accessible for testing is a real boon to technology and to science," says Evan Snyder, director of the Stem Cells and Regeneration Program at the Burnham Institute, in La Jolla, CA.
Quick pix: This Polaroid printer is about the size of a deck of cards and prints photos on two-inch-by-three-inch sheets of paper, without using ink or toner. Instead, it uses a novel type of thermal-printing technology developed by startup Zink Imaging. Zink developed special paper (bottom) that contains layers of crystals that release pigment when heated.
Polaroid, the company famous for cameras that print instant pictures, unveiled an ultrasmall photo printer today at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The company's new handheld printers produce color photos using novel thermal-printing technology developed at Polaroid spinoff Zink Imaging and first demonstrated earlier this year. (See "Printing without Ink.") John Pollock, the vice president and general manager of digital imaging at Polaroid, says that the printers will be available to consumers by the summer, and they will be priced at less than $150.
Posted Jan 3rd 2008 10:05AM by Brad Linder
Are you tired, of people steeling your wireless at your house, or poor performance from your wireless router, screw it, just run CAT5 cable directly from router
TETRIS played by real human-beings sitting in an auditorium: TETRIS is the 4th video performance of the GAME OVER Project, directed by the Swiss artist Guillaume REYMOND (NOTsoNOISY creative agency). This stop-motion video was shot and played for "LES URBAINES" festival http://www.urbaines.ch at the Palais de Rumine (Lausanne, Switzerland) on November 24th 2007.
You can find more information and also SPACE INVADERS, PONG and POLE POSITION on our website http://www.notsonoisy.com/gameover
ONGA, Fukuoka -- A lemon tree that bears 11 different kinds of fruit is earning attention for a resident here who has had it growing in his garden for years.
The tree, which is about 30 years old, is growing in the garden of 71-year-old Onga resident Manabu Fukushima. It is loaded with 11 kinds of fruit including dekopon, hassaku orange, iyoyan, amanatsu, and banpeiyu, a variety of pummelo.
Fukushima started receiving citrus tree saplings from neighbors about 15 years ago, and grafted them onto his lemon tree because he wanted to eat the fruit quickly. Since then, the varieties of fruit have gradually increased. Now locals often come too see the unusual tree.
Successful grafting can produce fruit in one to three years.
"The harvesting is really fun," Fukushima says. "Next year I want to increase the varieties."
Global New Year Celebrations.
People around the globe have welcomed in 2008 with dazzling firework displays.
also some real cool Panoramic Pictures, must have quicktime installedhttp://www.panoramas.dk/New-Year-2008/index.html
Epic Nintendo Memorabilia Collection
This is several video clips of what appears to be the same type of saucer shaped UFO. It's said to be at least a mile wide and are said to be filmed at different times. Is it the same UFO as seen on Google Earth, or the other UFO video filmed on 8/15/07? Real or not, it's still pretty cool. Check them both out!
many more videos here
Mike Aivaz and Muriel Kane
Published: Monday December 31, 2007
California's Proposition 215 legalized medical marijuana in that state 11 years ago as a treatment for pain, the side-effects of chemotherapy, and other ailments. However, the federal government still views all marijuana use as illegal, and the Supreme Court has upheld the federal Drug Enforcement Agency's right to go after dispensaries, no matter what state laws allow.
In September, the DEA raided the California Healthcare Collective in Modesto and arrested the store's chief financial officer, Luke Scarmazzo. "They handcuffed me and put me on my kitchen table," Scarmazzo told 60 Minutes. "One of them ... said 'you knew I'd be coming soon.'"
Scarmazzo acknowledged that he had been earning $13,000 a month for running the dispensary but insisted "I was working a lot of hours." Scarmazzo's lawyer described his client's situation as a case of "selective prosecution," because the 26-year-old Scarmazzo is also a hiphop artist, with a widely distributed Internet video in which he appears as a high-living drug dealer, chanting "Fuck the feds."
Complicating the legal situation, California's pot shops have admittedly become an easy source of supply for people who just want to get high. According to 60 Minutes, the California law was originally intended to provide access only to the most needy, but in an attempt not to exclude any category of illness, it wound up with language so broad that it covers ever the vaguest complaint of pain. Now anyone with a note from their doctor can buy medical marijuana, and some doctors even advertise for patients in alternative papers.
One longtime supporter of medical marijuana, Methodist minister Scott Imler, says, "It's just ridiculous ...The purpose of Proposition 215 was not to create a new industry." Although the centers are supposedly collectives which buy marijuana grown by members and redistribute it, it is clear that large amounts of marijuana are also entering the system from the black market, putting money into the pockets of organized crime and terrorists.
Marijuana activist Don Duncan told 60 Minutes that "there's bound to be abuse in the system" and what is needed is better regulation. However, Scott Imler argues that effective regulation is not possible as long as the federal government refused to accept the legality of medical marijuana. Until then, "We're going to have what we have now, which is chaos."
The following video is from CBS's 60 Minutes, broadcast on December 30, 2007
by Neil Miller
I am absolutely sick of writing “Top Ten” lists — so I have decided to make my big 2008 preview list with 20 films, just to add a little spice to your life. A while back my good friend Pete at /Film wrote an article about 55 Must-See Films in 2008, but that is just too many to sift through — you want it simple, right? Yahoo Movies also made their list of the Ten Most Anticipated Movies of 2008 — and it was absolutely lame. And lest I forget my good friend Alex at First Showing as he explains Why 2008 Will Be An Awesome Year for Movies — a comprehensive list similar to Pete’s. So as we ring in 2008, we’ve decided to give you a more precise, more definitive list of films to look out for in ‘08. With that said, I humbly present to you The 20 Most Anticipated Films of 2008.
20. Religulous (imdb)
Release Date: April 2, 2008
Talent: Bill Maher, Larry Charles (Director)
Synopsis: Bill Maher’s take on the current state of world religion.
The Buzz: Bill Maher has always had an interesting take on religion. In fact, he’s always had an interesting take on just about everything. That would be the key to the success of his late-night show Real Time with Bill Maher on HBO. In Religulous, Maher teams with Borat director Larry Charles to give his point of view on the state of religion in the world. Look out Michael Moore, you aren’t the only one who can be controversial.
19. The Incredible Hulk (imdb)
Release Date: June 13, 2008
Talent: Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, Louis Leterrier (Director)
Synopsis: Depicting the events after the Gamma Bomb. ‘The Incredible Hulk’ tells the story of Dr Bruce Banner, who seeks a cure to his unique condition, which causes him to turn into a giant green monster under emotional stress. Whilst on the run from military which seeks his capture, Banner comes close to a cure. But all is lost when a new creature emerges; The Abomination.
The Buzz: Not much has been released about this new Hulk, save for a few promotional stills and some concept art, but we are holding out hope. Marvel Studios has their game-face on, and we couldn’t be more excited.
18. Repo! The Genetic Opera (imdb)
Release Date: 2008
Talent: Paul Sorvino, Paris Hilton, Anthony Head, Darren Lynn Bousman (Director)
Synopsis: A worldwide epidemic encourages a biotech company to launch an organ-financing program similar in nature to a standard car loan. The repossession clause is a killer, however.
The Buzz: Disregard the fact that Paris Hilton is attached and remember how much you loved the hack-and-slash musical gore of Sweeney Todd. Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw IV) may just have something similar on his hands.
17. The International (imdb)
Release Date: August 15, 2008
Talent: Clive Owen, Naomi Watts, Tom Tykwer (Director)
Synopsis: An Interpol agent (Owen) attempts to expose a high-profile financial institution’s role in an international arms dealing ring.
The Buzz: Director Tom Tykwer showed some serious visual style with Perfume: The Story of a Murderer on ‘06, and this time he brings Clive Owen (yes, the Clive Owen) in for a thrilling drama. Can you smell a repeat of Children of Men? Let’s hope so.
16. Speed Racer (imdb)
Release Date: May 9, 2008
Talent: Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, Matthew Fox, The Wachowskis (Directors)
Synopsis: Born to race cars, Speed Racer (Emile Hirsch) is aggressive, instinctive and, most of all, fearless. His only real competition is the memory of the brother he idolized—the legendary Rex Racer, whose death in a race has left behind a legacy that Speed is driven to fulfill. Speed is loyal to the family racing business, led by his father, Pops Racer (John Goodman), the designer of Speed’s thundering Mach 5. When Speed turns down a lucrative and tempting offer from Royalton Industries, he not only infuriates the company’s maniacal owner (Roger Allam) but uncovers a terrible secret—some of the biggest races are being fixed by a handful of ruthless moguls who manipulate the top drivers to boost profits. If Speed won’t drive for Royalton, Royalton will see to it that the Mach 5 never crosses another finish line. The only way for Speed to save his family’s business and the sport he loves is to beat Royalton at his own game. With the support of his family and his loyal girlfriend, Trixie (Christina Ricci), Speed teams with his one-time rival—the mysterious Racer X (Matthew Fox)—to win the race that had taken his brother’s life: the death-defying, cross-country rally known as The Crucible.
The Buzz: Sure the first trailer looked a little over-the-top, but this is The Wachowskis that we are talking about — they gave us The Matrix. Goofy and stylized, yes — but it also could just be a lot of fun.
15. RocknRolla (imdb)
Release Date: October 3, 2008
Talent: Gerard Butler, Gemma Arterton, Jeremy Piven, Thandie Newton, Guy Ritchie (Director)
Synopsis: London’s criminal underworld takes notice of a Russian mobster’s shady land deal, a scam that puts millions of dollars up for grabs.
The Buzz: We’ve been waiting since Snatch for Guy Ritchie to deliver a rockin’ good movie. It just so happens that he may have done that, and named it appropriately. Hopefully Madonna was too busy directing her own film to get in the way.
14. Get Smart (imdb)
Release Date: June 20, 2008
Talent: Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, Dwayne Johnson, Alan Arkin, Peter Segal (Director)
Synopsis: Maxwell Smart, Agent 86 for CONTROL, battles the forces of KAOS with the more-competent Agent 99 at his side
The Buzz: Don’t believe all the negative word of mouth around this film, forget about re-shoots and just relax. Director Pete Segal is making us a fantastic action-comedy with Steve Carell, seemingly the reincarnation of Don Adams, at the heart of it all. It should be light, fun and full of Anne Hathaway’s hotness.
13. James Bond 22 (imdb)
Release Date: November 7, 2008
Talent: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Mathieu Amalric, Marc Forster (Director)
Synopsis: None Available.
The Buzz: The damn thing has not even begun shooting yet (it starts January 3), and the web is already buzzing about the next chapter for James Bond. Daniel Craig is back, his new Bond girl (rumored to be Gemma Arterton) is smoking hot, and we can expect the same viciousness that we saw with Casino Royale.
12. Sex and the City: The Movie (imdb)
Release Date: May 30, 2008
Talent: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis, Michael Patrick King (Director)
Synopsis: Not Available.
The Buzz: No one knows exactly how the infinitely popular television show will translate to the big screen, but we do know this: your girlfriends will eat it up. This thing, good or bad, is going to print money at the box office. It’s better that you not fight it, gentlemen.
11. Be Kind Rewind (imdb)
Release Date: February 22, 2008
Talent: Jack Black, Danny Glover, Mos Def, Mia Farrow, Michel Gondry (Director)
Synopsis: Jerry (Jack Black) is a junkyard worker who attempts to sabotage a power plant he suspects of causing his headaches. But he inadvertently causes his brain to become magnetized, leading to the unintentional destruction of all the movies in his friend’s (Mos Def) store. In order to keep the store’s one loyal customer, an elderly lady with a tenuous grasp on reality, the pair re-create a long line of films including The Lion King, Rush Hour, Ghostbusters, When We Were Kings, Back to the Future, Driving Miss Daisy, and Robocop , putting themselves and their townspeople into it. They become the biggest stars in their neighborhood.
The Buzz: Michel Gondry’s quirky flick is one of the best reasons to attend this year’s Sundance Film Festival, but if you have to wait — you will surely be rewarded. In every trailer thus far, Mos Def and Jack Black look like a perfect tandem for a movie like this. Fans of oddball comedy should find this one to be a nice early-year surprise.
10. Hellboy II: The Golden Army (imdb)
Release Date: July 11, 2008
Talent: Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Doug Jones, Guillermo Del Toro
Synopsis: The mythical world starts a rebellion against humanity in order to rule the Earth, so Hellboy and his team must save the world from the rebellious creatures.
The Buzz: This time around, Hellboy gets bigger and badder thanks to it’s director’s much-inflated profile. Universal has given Guillermo Del Toro a major green light to make a visual spectacle unlike any other — all he has to do is deliver as he always does.
9. Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (imdb)
Release Date: April 25, 2008
Talent: John Cho, Kal Pen, Rob Corddry
Synopsis: Follows the cross-country adventures of the pot-smoking duo as they try to outrun authorities who suspect them of being terrorists when they try to sneak a bong on board their flight to Amsterdam.
The Buzz: It sounds dumb to put this one so high on the list, but the first Harold & Kumar film was a huge success — especially with the younger audiences. There is no reason to suspect that this film won’t turn up the ridiculousness, delivering more munchie-craving slackers and more NPH — plenty more NPH.
8. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (imdb)
Release Date: May 16, 2008
Talent: Liam Neeson, Ben Barnes, Andrew Adamson (Director)
Synopsis: “Prince Caspian” finds the Pevensie siblings pulled back into the land of Narnia, where a thousand years have passed since they left. The children are once again enlisted to join the colorful creatures of Narnia in combating an evil villain who prevents the rightful Prince from ruling the land.
The Buzz: The Pevensie kids are going back to Narnia, and it would appear that we are all going with them. Fans of the first film (of which there are many) are getting very excited about this one. Those of us who were bored with the first one, myself included, can take refuge in the fact that the first trailer for Prince Caspian has tons of action.
7. Star Trek (imdb)
Release Date: December 25, 2008
Talent: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Eric Bana, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, J.J. Abrams (Director)
Synopsis: A chronicle of the early days of James T. Kirk and his fellow USS Enterprise crew members.
The Buzz: J.J. Abrams has practically an entire year to make sure that his installment is up to par, as he would be an idiot to disappoint the throngs of Trekkies that will be putting his film under a microscope. And while they may be harsh, they should also be a very excited bunch — as there hasn’t been much in the way of a good Trek film since — ever.
6. Wall-E (imdb)
Release Date: June 27, 2008
Talent: Fred Willard, Jeff Garlin, Andrew Stanton (Director)
Synopsis: The year is 2700. WALL*E, a robot, spends every day doing what he was made for. But soon, he will discover what he was meant for.
The Buzz: While Wall-E is significantly more soft-spoken than any past Pixar character (except Luxo the lamp, that is), we have no doubts that audiences will have no trouble falling head over heels for the little guy — it’s something in his eyes. Andrew Stanton and the crew at Pixar have failed to disappoint us up to now, with plenty of great films under there belt — we see no reason why they would start here.
5. Cloverfield (imdb)
Release Date: January 18, 2008
Talent: Michael Stahl-David, Mike Vogel, Lizzy Caplan, Matt Reeves (Director)
Synopsis: Revolves around a monster attack in New York as told from the point of view of a small group of people.
The Buzz: There are some that have had this marked on their calendar since the mysterious first teaser trailer ran in front of Transformers last summer. Basically, we are all waiting to see the monster that pretty much eats New York City. On 1-18-08, the lines will surely be long — so get to the theater early.
4. Iron Man (imdb)
Release Date: May 2, 2008
Talent: Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jon Favreau (Director)
Synopsis: When Tony Stark is forced to create a life support suit to keep him alive after an accident he decides to use the technology in his suit to fight crime.
The Buzz: Did you see the trailer? How much more do you need to see to be excited for Iron Man? Downey Jr. is perfectly cast as Tony Stark and Director Jon Favreau has every fan of the Marvel universe believing. This will be the first big blockbuster of what could be the most exciting summer movie season ever.
3. Zack and Miri Make a Porno (imdb)
Release Date: 2008
Talent: Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith (Director)
Synopsis: Lifelong platonic friends Zack (Rogen) and Miri (Banks) look to solve their respective cashflow problems by making an adult film together. As the cameras roll, however, the duo begin to sense that they may have more feelings for each other than they previously thought.
The Buzz: You didn’t think that this list would be all summer blockbusters did you? Zack and Miri will combine two of the most beloved comedic minds in all of Hollywood, director Kevin Smith and actor Seth Rogen, to make a movie about two people who want to start a porn company. And it stars the always gorgeous Elizabeth Banks. If you need to read that again to allow it to really sink in, we can wait.
2. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (imdb)
Release Date: May 22, 2008
Talent: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Shia LaBeouf, Cate Blanchett, Steven Spielberg (Director), George Lucas (Writer)
Synopsis: Not Available.
The Buzz: They might as well have titled this film Indiana Jones and the Return to the Bank, as it is going to seriously pad the LucasFilm bankroll. Steven Spielberg brings back his trusted old adopted son (Harrison Ford) and throws him back in the Indy costume alongside his new adopted son (Shia LaBeouf) for what can only be described as a wild ride — and we don’t even know what the film is about yet.
1. The Dark Knight (imdb)
Release Date: July 18, 2008
Talent: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Aaron Eckhart, Christopher Nolan (Director)
Synopsis: Batman raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the city streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as The Joker.
The Buzz: Part of it may be the fanboy inside of me, the other part might be the brilliant web of viral marketing being spun by the folks at Warner Brothers, but there is 2008 release that can get here any sooner than The Dark Knight. Christian Bale is back and as badass as ever in the (nippleless) batsuit and Heath Ledger is slowly transforming into the Joker that we never knew he could be. Mark my words, The Dark Knight is going to rule the summer box office.
So there you have it, our picks of the Top 20 Most Anticipated Movies of 2008. Let’s get on with it already!
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The Sighting: We can't have one of these Alienware curved monitors until the second half of this year, but until then, we've been abducted by its four nearly seamless and sharp screens of DLP goodness. Lit by LEDs, this 2880x900 monster is well over three feet wide and is said to have an other-worldly .02ms response time, great for gaming. The Soylent Green: You can see the seams between this monitor's four segments, but the Alienware humanoids tell us that flaw will be gone by the time this craft lands on Earth. The blacks look a bit washed out to our eyes, too. Price is yet to be determined.
