Disney Grab Bag

Staff Writer: Grave Digger

Disney is buying out the competition. From children's book clubs to comics? That's right, Disney is making a play to corner the market.

"Disney has acquired the kid-focused virtual world of Club Penguin in a deal totaling $700 million: $350 million cash and the chance to earn out $350 million more between now until 2009."

“This transaction combines Marvel’s strong global brand and world-renowned library of characters including Iron Man, Spider-Man, X-Men, Captain America, Fantastic Four and Thor with Disney’s creative skills, unparalleled global portfolio of entertainment properties, and a business structure that maximizes the value of creative properties across multiple platforms and territories,” said Robert A. Iger, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company.

Disney's acquisitions might shed some light on the Narnia franchise's demise. Disney needs the capital to buy these other outlets.

If this is so, Disney might have made a mistake letting Narnia go. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader may compete with the Prince Caspian box office. An adventure story versus a war story may attract more family viewers.

We'll have to wait and see in December 2010.

Sources: Mashable and Mashable

Saturn Awards

Staff Writer: Grave Digger

At an undisclosed location on June 25 , the Saturn Awards will crown this year's Scifi-Fantasy-Horror winners.

The Dark Knight is in the lead with 11 nods. Rounding out the top achievers were:

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - 9
Iron Man - 8
Valkyrie - 7
Indiana Jones and the
Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls - 6

Has your favorite movie been nominated for a Saturn? You could ask the mythical god. Or, write the planet's rings. Easier still, visit the Saturn Awards website.

Source: Yahoo!

Marvel Man

Staff Writer: Samuntha MacKenzie

Samuel L. Jackson is Nick Fury, the Actor's Agent? He has signed a 9 flick deal with Marvel Comics that will have Sam in the role of Agent Nick Fury for Iron Man 2 and eight other comic book film that deals with S.H.I.E.L.D.

Let's see that's The Avengers, Thor, Iron Mans, Captain America, and perhaps a S.H.I.E.L.D spin off?

Can you say busy?

Source: THR and BuddyTV.

Films on the Move

Staff Writer: Grave Digger

For some reason, Hollywood is dancing with movie release dates.

Twilight was moved up as Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince moved out. Harry Potter went from November 21, 2008 to July 17, 2009. Even with the citation of the writer’s strike, does the industry believe fans are inept? A little love please, give us a better reason. Anyway, Twilight moved from December to fill that November spot.

Why do films change dates? Some are for the best opening and run for the movie. Other reasons are because the flim is not good, or unforeseen production problems.

As Disney figured out for The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, the release date can make or break a movie. Yet Disney has not changed the Voyage of the Dawn Treader from May 7, 2010. A date close to Iron Man 2, how can Disney hope to continue The Chronicle of Narnia franchise? The children’s movie didn’t do well squashed between Iron Man and Indiana Jones 4.

Perhaps Disney has inside information. Or, Disney hasn’t really learned from their mistakes.

Iron Man and Indiana Jones 4 DVD dates are September 30 and October 14 respectively. Prince Caspian will be released on DVD on December 2. As for Twilight and Harry Potter, these films are highly anticipated by genre fans young and old.

Ben Barnes, Robert Downey, Jr., Harrison Ford, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Richard Harris, Gwenth Paltrow, Shia LeBeouf, Skandar Keynes, Georgie Henley, William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Tilda Swinton