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☆ Bernard Hill death: ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and ‘Titanic’ actor dies at 79
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-05 | by ( Thom Poole | Audry Jeong | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —British actor Bernard Hill, best known for supporting roles in “Titanic” and “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, has died, his family announced on Sunday. “It is with the greatest sadness that we must announce that Bernard Hill, renowned actor known for his roles in ‘Titanic’ and ‘Lord of the Rings,’ passed away in the early hours of this morning at the age of 79,” his family said in a statement. In James Cameron’s 1997 multi-Oscar winning “Titanic”, Hill plays the ship’s Captain Edward Smith as a man haunted by his role in the tragedy and ultimately resigned to his fate. We last see him alone, still clutching the ship’s helm, before the rising water bursts in through the windows. Bernard Hill in The Return Of The King, 2003.

Persons: Bernard Hill, ’, ”, Alison, Gabriel, ” Hill, Thatcher, James Cameron’s, Hill, Edward Smith, Shutterstock, Peter Jackson’s, King of Rohan, “ Gandhi, ” “ Shirley Valentine ”, Lou Coulson, Lindsay Salt, “ Organizations: CNN, BBC Locations: British, New

☆ As ‘Alien’ turns 45, those screams still echo through space and time
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —“In space, no one can hear you scream.”“Alien” premiered with that memorable advertising line in June 1979. I went to see “Alien” on its opening weekend with my older brother, knowing relatively little about it. Driving to the Avco cinemas in Westwood near UCLA, we immediately noticed the long line for tickets wrapping around the theater and heading down the block. Yaphet Kotto, Sigourney Weaver and Ian Holm in "Alien." Yet in the 1970s, with films like “Jaws,” “Star Wars” and “Alien,” they seemed to emerge almost organically, yielding screams, either of delight or horror, that, like those memories, have echoed across space and time.

Persons: CNN —, “, Ridley Scott’s, Ellen Ripley, Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, Yaphet Kotto, Ian Holm, –, thrall, Ripley, Romulus, ”, James Cameron’s Organizations: CNN, Los Angeles Times, Avco, UCLA, Fox, Hollywood Locations: Westwood

☆ A.I. Made These Movies Sharper. Critics Say It Ruined Them.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Calum Marsh | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

In 1998, Geoff Burdick, an executive at James Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment, was hunched in front of a 12-inch monitor at a postproduction house, carefully preparing “Titanic” for release on LaserDisc and VHS. The computer could erase these blemishes using a kind of copy-paste tool, concealing the defects with information from another frame. “But there were a lot of folks who said, ‘This is not right! As the picture quality has improved, restoration tools have evolved with them, making it easier than ever for filmmakers to fine-tune their work using computers. “I think they look the best they’ve ever looked,” Burdick said.

Persons: Geoff Burdick, James Cameron’s, Burdick, we’d, ”, Cameron, “, ” Burdick Organizations: Entertainment

☆ Titanic II: Australian billionaire Clive Palmer relaunches dream to build replica ship
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Brisbane, Australia CNN —For more than a decade, Australian billionaire Clive Palmer has been the driving force behind plans to build Titanic II – a replica of the ill-fated ship that sank in 1912 with more than 2,200 people on board. Palmer first launched plans for Titanic II in 2012, and again in 2018. Palmer, chairman of the Blue Star Line company behind the Titanic project, also had other issues on his agenda. Of Titanic II, Clive Palmer says it'll be the "ship of love." Titanic ll will be the ship where those dreams come true,’’ Palmer said.

Persons: Clive Palmer, Palmer, ” Palmer, he’s, He’s, ’ ’ Palmer, doesn’t, it’s, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, it'll, James Cameron’s Oscar, ”, ’ Palmer Organizations: Australia CNN, Titanic, Sydney Opera House, Blue Star Line, United Australia Party, Paramount, Titan Locations: Brisbane, Australia, Europe

☆ ‘Dune: Part Two’ can inspire you to revisit these other timeless sci-fi sequels
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Dan Heching | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Twentieth Century Fox/Courtesy Everett CollectionWhat better way to start off than with one of the greatest sequels – and sci-fi films in general – ever made, with a screenplay that’s been taught in film schools. ‘Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan’ (1982)DeForest Kelley, William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy in 1982's "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan." ‘Dawn of the Planet of the Apes’ (2014)Andy Serkis in 2014's "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes." ‘Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back’ (1980)"Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back" (1980). “Dune: Part Two” is produced by Warner Bros. Pictures, which, like CNN, is owned by Warner Bros.

Persons: Denis Villeneuve’s, there’s, Sigourney Weaver, –, James Cameron’s Oscar, Ridley Scott’s, Ellen Ripley’s, Carrie Henn, Khan ’, DeForest Kelley, William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Khan, Everett, ”, Ricardo Montalban, “ Khan ”, Arnold Schwarzenegger, James Cameron, he’s, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s, Linda Hamilton, Sarah Connor –, Andy Serkis, Caesar, “ Dawn ”, Max, Thunderdome, Mel Gibson, Warner, Mad Max, George Miller’s, Tina Turner’s, Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Miller, Theron’s Furiosa, Anya Taylor, Joy, Ernie Hudson, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, Annie Potts, Rick Moranis, Peter MacNicol, Howard Huntsberry, George Lucas Organizations: CNN, Rotten, Century Fox, Paramount, “, TriStar, Columbia, ‘, Lucasfilm Ltd, Wars, Warner Bros . Pictures, Warner Bros . Locations: Ripley, ‘, “ Kingdom

☆ China’s ‘most inconvenient convenience store’ hangs off the side of a cliff
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —A tiny wooden shed perched on a steep cliff in a scenic southern Chinese region has earned the nickname of “most inconvenient convenience store” in the country. It’s also home to Haohan Qiao, or “Brave Men’s Bridge,” which, upon opening in 2015, was China’s first glass-bottomed bridge. The convenience store is located along an 800-meter via ferrata route. It returned to the spotlight this month following recent reports on state media, captivating Chinese social media users. “The most inconvenient convenience store,” a popular military blogger, who has more than 889,400 fans, quipped on Chinese social network Weibo last week.

Persons: It’s, Haohan Qiao, –, Huizhou, Shiniuzhai, James Cameron’s, ” Organizations: CNN, China Daily, Weibo, China Daily . Staff, Beijing Youth Daily Locations: Chinese, Hunan, ”, China

CNN —Matt Damon turned down a major role years ago – except this role was one that could have made the Oscar-winner upwards of $250 million. “Water” sits behind “Avatar” and “Avengers: Endgame,” which has grossed nearly $2.8 billion since its release in 2019. It’s a decision that may haunt him, but all signs seem to indicate that Damon did just fine without venturing around Cameron’s planet of Pandora. For now, Damon stars in director Christopher Nolan’s latest war-era epic “Oppenheimer,” which premieres in theaters on Friday. As for Damon’s claim that his decision resulted in the most money an actor has declined ever, that’s debatable.

Persons: Matt Damon, Chris Wallace, ” Damon, James Cameron’s, ” Cameron, Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Joel David Moore, Michelle Rodriguez, ”, It’s, Damon, Christopher Nolan’s, Oppenheimer, Sean Connery, Gandalf, Peter Jackson’s, “ didn’t, Bond Organizations: CNN

☆ James Cameron’s 100-Acre California Ranch Lists for $33 Million
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Katherine Clarke | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/james-camerons-100-acre-california-ranch-lists-for-33-million-2eb626b4

Persons: Dow Jones Locations: california

☆ Opinion | Save Turner Classic Movies
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-24 | by ( Maureen Dowd | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON — I co-starred with Sir Alec Guinness in a movie where a submersible travels down to the Titanic, springs a leak and implodes. One scene was shot in the newsroom of The Washington Star, where I worked. It was cool to do because my father had a ticket for the Titanic when he was a teenager. His mother cried so much, he sold it to a young woman. “Raise the Titanic” pops up on Turner Classic Movies sometimes, along with other sagas like the 1953 “Titanic” with Barbara Stanwyck and Clifton Webb, the 1958 “A Night to Remember” and James Cameron’s epic 1997 “Titanic” with Jack and Rose clinging to that notorious wooden door.

Persons: WASHINGTON —, Sir Alec Guinness, Barbara Stanwyck, Clifton Webb, ”, James Cameron’s, Jack, Rose Organizations: The Washington Star, “, Turner Locations: America

☆ A Queer Punk Vaudevillian’s Surreal Take on ‘Titanic’
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Melena Ryzik | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In some ways, turning the movie “Titanic” into a farce about climate change makes a lot of narrative sense. In other ways, “Titanic Depression,” a new multimedia performance, could only have come from the madcap brain of Dynasty Handbag, the queer vaudevillian with punk origins and questionable taste in unitards. The 1997 movie was a blockbuster, sure, but Dynasty Handbag’s vision may be even more epic than James Cameron’s. Billy Zane’s villainous snob is replaced by a dildo in a black loafer. And Dynasty Handbag, the alter ego of the artist Jibz Cameron, inhabits all the parts.

☆ 'Avatar' director James Cameron, 'Top Gun' star Tom Cruise snubbed by Oscars
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Dawn Chmielewski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Director James Cameron arrives at the world premiere of 'Avatar: The Way of Water' in London, Britain December 6, 2022. Cameron was joined - in omission - by another box-office standout, actor Tom Cruise, whose starring role in “Top Gun: Maverick” wowed audiences but was overlooked in the best actor category. Another notable snub from the best picture list was "Babylon," "La La Land" director Damien Chazelle's ambitious ode to old Hollywood. This year none of the nominees for best director are women. One of the most successful recording artists of the era, Taylor Swift, also was snubbed by the Academy.

☆ ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ nears $900 million globally
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-25 | by ( Sarah Whitten | Whitten Is A Social Media Writer For Cnbc. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Disney and James Cameron’s “Avatar: The Way of Water” snared an estimated $56 million during its second weekend in theaters, a 58% drop from its debut. A decline in ticket sales is common for blockbuster titles, with most seeing a 50% to 70% slip. Box office analysts noted that cold winter weather and storms during the Christmas weekend likely led to slower ticket sales domestically. Additionally, international ticket sales continue to thrive. “The Way of Water” has generated $855 million in global ticket sales since its Dec. 16 release — $254 million domestically and $601 million from international markets.

☆ Disney places big bet on 'Avatar: The Way of Water'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailDisney places big bet on 'Avatar: The Way of Water'Cynthia Littleton, Variety co-editor-in-chief, and Tom Rogers, Engine Media executive chairman, join ‘Squawk Box’ to discuss the box office expectations for James Cameron’s new movie, "Avatar: The Way of Water."

At 190 minutes, the running time of “Avatar: The Way of Water” is longer. Jake and Neytiri have had numerous children and adopted Kiri (Sigourney Weaver), the daughter of a human scientist’s avatar body. Rather than invaders exploring the land they’ve invaded, the second “Avatar” film is about the encounter of two different indigenous societies. But the human colonizers —preparing to strip-mine Pandora for its minerals and its biological resources (including space whale essence) — are the aliens. Rather than invaders exploring the land they’ve invaded, the second “Avatar” film is about the encounter between two different indigenous societies.

Hong Kong CNN —James Cameron’s “Avatar: The Way of Water” has premiered in China, 13 years after the original film took the country by storm. A poster of film 'Avatar: The Way of Water' is seen at a cinema on December 11, 2022 in Beijing, China. I immersed myself in the plot and enjoyed an unprecedented audio-visual feast.”Shot in the armThe “Way of Water” is expected to buoy China’s pandemic-depressed box office. By mid-December, China’s box office reached only 28.8 billion yuan ($4.1 billion), down nearly 40% from last year. The “Way of Water” accounted for 80% of screenings scheduled for Friday, the Maoyan data showed.

☆ How James Cameron’s Water Obsession Led to the ‘Avatar’ Sequel
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( John Jurgensen | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Since getting certified in a YMCA pool at age 16, filmmaker James Cameron has done roughly 1,000 scuba dives. In a solo submersible, he once went down nearly 7 miles to the deepest point of the ocean with the most extreme water pressure. Various forces threatened to crush Mr. Cameron when he was making his biggest waterborne feature films to date: “Titanic” (1997) and “The Abyss” (1989), which he shot in a flooded nuclear containment vessel with actors on the edge.

☆ James Cameron's new 'Avatar' film gets rare China release
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

“Avatar: The Way of Water” will be released in China on the same day as its global release, the studio said on its official Weibo account. The six latest Marvel movies did not make an appearance in China and earlier this year, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” was also denied a China release. That said, since Chinese movie ticket sales topped US ticket sales for the first time in 2020, the Chinese movie market has been hit by tight Covid-19 curbs. China’s total box office take for this year has reached only 28.27 billion yuan ($4 billion) according to Chinese cinema data app Dengta. It is a sharp fall from 2019’s 64.15 billion yuan or even last year’s 47.04 billion.

☆ 'Black Panther: 'Wakanda Forever' aims to recreate blockbuster magic. Disney and theaters are counting on it
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Frank Pallotta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

If early projections and ticket sales are any indication, it appears “Wakanda Forever” will be just that. Why “Wakanda Forever” matters to theaters"Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" is set to be one of the biggest films of the year. “Every blockbuster counts more than ever for movie theaters right now.”Why does it matter how “Wakanda Forever” does this weekend? Why “Wakanda Forever” matters to Disney"Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" could break records this weekend. The performance of “Wakanda Forever” likely won’t move the needle on Disney’s stock, given that investors remain heavily focused on the company’s streaming endeavors.

☆ 'L.A. Confidential' at 25
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

So it’s worth a moment, 25 years after its debut, to give some love to “L.A. Confidential,” the film noir adaptation of James Ellroy’s tale of corruption in the city of Angels that seemingly did everything right, only to be washed over by the understandable wave of enthusiasm that surrounded James Cameron’s massive hit, “Titanic.”Directed by the late Curtis Hanson, “L.A. Confidential” didn’t walk away from the Academy Awards empty handed, taking trophies for adapted screenplay and co-star Kim Basinger as the proverbial call girl with a heart of gold, and a striking resemblance to Veronica Lake. The investigation eventually swept up a trio of officers, turning them into unlikely allies in seeking to expose the truth. Confidential” was released by Warner Bros., which, like CNN, is a unit of Warner Bros.

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