Avatar regains top spot in UK box office

James Cameron's blockbuster Avatar has climbed back to the top of the UK box office charts.

The sci-fi film, which was knocked off the top spot by Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel which took £5.9 million, bringing its UK box office total to £32.8 million.

Sherlock Holmes, Guy Ritchie's new film, moved up one place to claim the second position, netting £3.4 million.

Available to rent on the movies4africa website from April 10.

82nd Annual Academy Awards: Oscar Winners

This morning the speculation and debate came to an end when the 82nd Academy Awards sorted through the nominees and picked their winners. 

Below, the complete list of the 2010 winners. The Hurt Locker took the most Oscars coming away with a stunning six nominations in all. See all the results below:


BEST PICTURE: The Hurt Locker
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE: Jeff Bridges - Crazy Heart
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: Christoph Waltz - Inglourious Basterds

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE: Sandra Bullock - The Blind Side

ACRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: Mo'Nique - Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM: Up
ART DIRECTION: Avatar
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Avatar
COSTUME DESIGN: The Young Victoria
DIRECTING: The Hurt Locker
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: The Cove
DOCYMENTARY SHORT: Music by Prudence
FILM EDITING: The Hurt Locker
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: The Secret in Their Eyes (El Secreto de Sus Ojos)
MAKEUP: Start Trek
MUSIC (Original Score): Up
MUSIC (Original Song): Crazy Heart
SHORT FILM (Animated): Logorama
SHORT FILM (Live Action): The New Tenants
SOUND EDITING: The Hurt Locker
SOUND MIXING: The Hurt Locker
VISUAL EFFECTS: Avatar
WRITING (Adapted Screenplay): Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire
WRITING: (Original Screenplay): The Hurt Locker

Bridget Jones heading to TV?

Bosses at American network NBC are reportedly in talks to bring Renee Zellweger's Bridget Jones character to TV in a new weekly show.

Rumours of a third installment in the movie series have been rife over the last few months - Zellweger has shrugged off the gossip insisting she knows nothing about a planned sequel, while her onscreen love interest Colin Firth has spoken out in favour of a follow-up.

And speculation about the future of the franchise has now turned to TV, following a deal between bosses at Working Title, the studio behind Bridget Jones, and U.S. network NBC.

President of NBC Universal International, Pete Smith, has said executives are working on a "reservoir" of content but refused to discuss specifics as film rights are still under discussion, but a Bridget Jones adaptation is said to be a top priority, according to the New York Post. ~ LoveFilm

Chinese author in Avatar copyright lawsuit bid

A Chinese writer is persevering with his threats to sue James Cameron over allegations the director based his blockbuster Avatar on a 1997 novel, even though officials at two courts have refused to submit the breach of copyright case.

Zhou Shaomou claims the plotlines in the sci-fi epic were lifted from his book, Tale Of The Blue Crows, which was published online.

He tells China Daily, "Eighty per cent of the plot and the key elements of Avatar are similar to my 1997 science fiction novel Tale Of The Blue Crows."

Shaomou has failed so far in his attempts to file a lawsuit in China, but the writer is persevering with his legal bid, and is seeking £96.9 million.

He adds, "I realise that no one knows me in China but I insist on fighting for my copyright. Over 10 million people have read my book over the internet.

We've just been informed, the official Rental Release for Avatar is expected on the 22nd April 2010.

Brad Pitt takes a bite out of vampire movie

Brad Pitt is sinking his teeth into the current vampire craze - he's teamed up with the makers of Twilight to revisit the undead in a new bloodsucker movie.

The Hollywood actor, who famously starred in 1994's Interview With The Vampire, is set to produce a new picture called Vlad, which tells the story of the young Count Dracula.

The movie will reportedly focus on Dracula as a young prince and incorporate the true tale of Vlad The Impaler, the Romanian ruler said to have inspired Bram Stoker's legendary vampire.

Pitt's Plan B production company has joined forces with Summit Entertainment, the studio behind the massively popular Twilight franchise, for the venture.

Famed music video director Anthony Mandler, who has worked with Rihanna, The Killers and Eminem, is said to be in negotiations to helm the picture, according to MovieHole.net. It is not yet know whether Pitt will take a starring role in the film. ~LoveFilm

Hugh Grant took panic pills during Music and Lyrics

Hugh Grant was doped up on anti-anxiety pills during the filming of Music And Lyrics - to combat his crippling panic attacks.

The actor has been candid about his chronic anxiety, which began when he made 1999's Notting Hill with Julia Roberts and became most severe while he was shooting the 2007 romantic comedy with Drew Barrymore.

Grant admits he was terrified of the disorder, and turned to powerful anti-anxiety medication lorazepam to get through the project.

He says, "I did the whole film full of lorazepam... It was scary.

"They've (the panic attacks) been growing over the years. There would always be two or three during a film and on Music and Lyrics I had a lot. I don't really know why. They would come and go during the easiest scenes. I'll go in there, rehearse, think it's going to be good and then suddenly they turn the camera round for a close-up and I freeze like a rabbit. It's humiliating and it's so bad I can barely speak so they have to throw the scene away."

He explains, "The one thing that did me some good was a bloke who said that when you have a panic attack, it's your natural adrenalin which you need to do the scene, but just a fraction too much.
"So if you just breathe and take it down a little you can do it. Just knowing that helped, so I got through this movie just about all right. Just." ~LoveFilm

Inglourious Basterds wins Shockwaves NME Award

Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds has taken the top prize at this year's Shockwaves NME Awards.

The movie was named the best film of 2009, ahead of In the Loop, the Twilight Saga: New Moon, 500 Days Of Summer and Where the Wild Things Are.

Starring Brad Pitt and Christoph Waltz, the film tells the story of a group of Jewish-American soldiers known as "The Basterds" who are chosen specifically to spread fear throughout the Third Reich by scalping and brutally killing Nazis.

Inglourious Basterds is also up for eight Oscars, including the best picture, best writing, best supporting actor and best director awards.~ LoveFilm

Last year, the London Film Critics' Circle awarded Tarantino with the Dilys Powell gong for excellence in cinema.

Jason Solomons, chairman of the circle's committee, said: "He is currently the most passionate and exciting director in America, always engaged with the future and the history of cinema, his life blood. His award is for daring to keep cinema fresh and vital as an art form."

Inglorious Basterds is now also available in Blu-Ray format on the movies4africa website.