The First Summer Movie "Thor" Needs To Come Out Swinging And Smash The Box Office

Not too long ago I was privy to some trailers of summer movies that begin in a short few weeks with the first being the long awaited release of Thor. I know that the Norse god Thor can carry a war hammer of the gods but can he carry opening day for the summer blockbuster season that is expected? I have a few worries about this movie since the first trailer came out at San Diego Comic Con 2010 and it has taken till the summer of 2011 to release it. Don't get me wrong, I still want to see it I just hope this god is strong enough. The following is a list of movies coming out this summer that I think are worth your time. I will not bore you with my reviews of these forth-coming movies, I will leave that up to you. They are not in order of release, just in order of what I remember seeing

Thor

Pirates of the Caribbean

Green Lantern

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

Captain America

Super 8

Cowboys and Aliens

Priest

X-Men: First Class

Transformers – Dark Side of the Moon

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Fright Night 2011

If there are any others I may have forgotten, feel free to let us know and we here at Scifipundit will update our post. See ya at the movies

Be Ready For More Posts

With the summer fast approaching so comes the summer movie releases from all the studios. I will be posting on what I think will be big and what I fear will suck. Stay tuned and see if I am right. If there are any movies you are looking forward to give a shout out here on my blog and we will chat about it or if there is any TV shows you are looking forward to let us know here at SciFiPundit.

StarFest in Sight

Hellllloooo, Anyone out there? I know it has been some time since I last posted on my blog, but I figured I should say something about Denver Starfest at the Marriott & Hilton Denver Tech Center that will be happening the 15th – 17th of April 2011. I personally will be up there on Thursday the 14th to meet up with some old friends and party and maybe chat with some of the guests who tend to show up early. I think this is going to be the best Starfest yet. The guest list is impressive this year and I think the Starland staff will be pulling out all the stops to make this an awesome event for all Sci-Fi, comic book and horror fans. Guests from the television show “Star Wars, Firefly, BSG, STNG (Star Trek Next Generation) are scheduled to appear. If this is your first visit to Starfest, shame on you for not coming to it sooner and be ready to have a great time, Those Starfest veterans already know what to expect and, I am sure are already packed and in countdown mode as I am. I hope to see some old friends and make some new ones and try out my new costume(Jedi)one eve, since I think some folks are sick of my Lucius Malfoy, which I will wear one day of the con. So bring your costumes, cameras and your booze and let’s have a great time.

52 Days And Counting ( Time Needs To Go Faster}

Only fifty two days till one of the biggest fan run, pop culture conventions in the US begins in Atlanta. So far the guest lineup has over 350 actors, musicians, authors, and artists attending. While this convention is about half the size of Comic Con in San Diego, this one is not industry run, but instead ran by fans of every genre. Panels and demonstrations on just about every subject are continuous throughout the con. Dances and music, and parties happen every night at the 4 hotels the convention has taken over and sold out and a huge parade that anyone who attends the con can be a part of. If you want to have a great time and I do mean a really great time, and make new friends. Come to Dragon Con in Atlanta over "Labor Day" Weekend. This is not a paid advertisement.
( I wish it was, I could use the money for con)

Heres Something For The Ladies Of Dragon Con In Atlanta

I was sent this by a friend and it just seemed appropriate
Southern Women & Southern Ways---Humor

Southern women know their summer weather report: Humidity, Humidity, Humidity. Southern women know their vacation spots: The beach, The rivuh,The crick Southern women know every body's first name:Honey, Darlin', Shugah, Southern women know the movies that speak to their hearts:Fried Green Tomatoes, Driving, Miss Daisy Steel, Magnolias, Gone With The Wind Southern women know their religions: Baptist, Methodist, Football Southern women know. their cities dripping with Southern charm:Chawl'stn , S'vanah, Foat Wuth, N'awlins, Addlanna Southern women know their elegant gentlemen: Men in uniform, Men in tuxedos, Rhett Butler. Southern girls know their prime real estate:The Mall, The Spa The Beauty Salon.
Southern girls know the 3 deadly sins:Having bad hair and nails , Having bad manners, Cooking bad food. More Suthen-ism's: Only a Southerner knows the difference between a hissie fit and a conniption fit, And that you don't "HAVE" them, you "PITCH" them. Only a Southerner knows how many fish, collard greens, turnip greens, peas, beans, etc., make up "a mess." Only a Southerner can show or point out to you the general direction of "yonder."Only a Southerner knows exactly how long "directly" is, as in: "Going to town, be back drekly (directly). Even Southern babies know that "Gimme some sugar" is not a request for the white, granular, sweet substance that sits in a pretty little bowl in the middle of the table. All Southerners know exactly when "by and by" is. They might not use the term, but they know the concept well. Only a Southerner knows instinctively that the best gesture of solace for a neighbor who's got trouble is a plate of hot fried chicken and a big bowl of cold potato salad. If the neighbor's trouble is a real crisis, they also know to add a large banana puddin'! Only Southerners grow up knowing the difference between "right near" and "a right far piece." They also know that "just down the road" can be 1 mile or 20. Only a Southerner both knows and understands the difference between a redneck, a good ol' boy, and Po white trash. No true Southerner would ever assume that the car with the flashing turn signal is actually going to make a turn. A Southerner knows that "fixin" can be used as a noun, a verb, or an adverb. Only Southerners make friends while standing in lines ... And when we're "in line,"... We talk to everybody! Put 100 Southerners in a room and half of them will discover they're related, even if only by marriage. In the South, y'all is singular, all y'all is plural. Southerners know grits come from corn and how to eat them. Every Southerner knows tomatoes with eggs, bacon, grits, and coffee are perfectly wonderful; that red eye gravy is also a breakfast food; and that fried green tomatoes are not a breakfast food. When you hear someone say, "Well, I caught myself lookin'," you know you are in the presence of a genuine Southerner! Only true Southerners say "sweet tea" and "sweet milk." Sweet tea indicates the need for sugar and lots of it -- we do not like our tea unsweetened. "Sweet milk" means you don't want buttermilk. AND a true Southerner knows you don't scream obscenities at little old ladies who drive 30 MPH on the freeway. You just say, "Bless her heart"... And go your own way. To those of you who are still a little embarrassed by your Southerness: Take two tent revivals and a dose of sausage gravy and call me in the morning. Bless your heart! And to those of you who are still having a hard time understanding all this Southern stuff...bless your hearts, I hear they are fixin' to have classes on Southernness as a second language! And for those that are not from the South but have lived here for a long time, all y'all need a sign to hang on y'alls front porch that reads "I'm not from the South, but I got here as fast as I could." Southern women know: Men may come and go, but friends are fahevah!Now Shugah, send this to someone who was raised in the South or wishes they had been! If you're a Northern transplant, bless your little heart, fakeit! We know you got here as fast as you could.

Statues and Tea Parties

So lots of news coming out of the studios. For the first time in a long time if ever, a sci -fi movie is up for an Academy award for best picture as well as technical . James Camerons half billion dollar "Avatar" is in the running for the big prize, going up against other wonderful films like the the bare bones budget , 13 million dollar movie "The Hurt Locker" (go see it ). Tim Burtons re imaging of the classic "Alice in Wonderland" hits the theaters this weekend, with his very good friend, Johnny Depp taking on the role that I doubt anyone could do better, the "Mad Hatter" and while Lewis Carroll might not turn over in his grave at this remake. I would bet he twitched a bit. But I am sure Mr Burton has another hit on his hands. Fantasy and Sci -fi running rabbit... oh I meant rampant (smirk)

James Cameron Once Again Finds Gold - This Time On Pandora

James Cameron’s “Avatar “ breaks the billion dollar mark with the help of some of my money, showing the decade that Mr. Cameron waited for technology to catch up with his dreams seems to be well worth the wait. Not to mention rewarding the patience of the fans that have been waiting since hearing about it after the release of his other monstrous Academy award winning hit “Titanic”. On a personal level, I completely enjoyed the film in 3-D and was pleasantly surprised to find out how fast 2 hours and 40 min could go by. The huge budget (rumored to be over 500 million dollars) could be seen in every minute in the film. Being a sci-fi blogger, and admitted geek, I have the pleasure and sometimes torture of watching the newest sci-fi and fantasy genre films and television shows Hollywood throws out. I am happy to say this was the former. I have waited to blog about this to see how long it would take for Mr. Cameron to recoup his investment. Not really – just procrastination on my part,also being the resolution I meant to do but kept putting it off. I’m taking a few lessons from my wife.
In my adventures, it seems more and more difficult to find sci-fi and fantasy based films. I sometimes think Hollywood producers and executives don’t realize what a gold mine they have in these niche products. Followers of this genre prove to be a dedicated and loyal fan base, who willingly part with their money even in this weak economy. A good example of this is seen in Joss Whedon and his TV show Firefly. After only 13 episodes, the series was cancelled. However the power of the fan base made possible the movie Serenity. And the dream of the Browncoats lives on, as anyone who has visited ComicCon or DragonCon can attest. If you don’t believe me, just attend a Browncoat Shin Dig or Battlestar Colonial Fleet party. (And if any of these terms are alien to you, (pun intended) it’s time to spend a bit more time in your mother’s basement with a Serenity/Firefly, and Battlestar Galactica Marathon. Or keep an eye on Nathan Fillion in Castle, especially around Halloween.)This is why Hollywood and its execs need to pay closer attention to those type of fans. Take a cue from Will Smith, who makes 2 movies a year: One for his art, and one (usually a sci-fi pic) for the fans. Guess which one makes more money. I will continue to trek on these adventures like the Indiana Jones of sci-fi, looking for that Holy Grail of quality science fiction and fantasy-based films and television to bring back and blog about.

Knighthoods Bestowed On Patrick Stewart and Peter Jackson

I would normally have something very witty to say in my opening sentence, but not in this case, this is too big an honor for two individuals who truly deserve it. Yorkshire England native, Patrick Stewart who is best known for his role on the television show and in movies as Capt. Jean-Luc Picard of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" – has been given the great honor of knight in Queen Elizabeth II's New Year honors list. Patrick Stewart may now add the title of "Sir" to the beginning of his name. The 69-year-old actor only recently returned to the British West End following a long career in Hollywood and on Broadway. The writer and director Peter Jackson was also Knighted in his homeland of New Zealand where the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy was filmed and won a total of 17 Academy Awards a few years ago. The title of Knight is approved by the queen, the country's head of state. As a total geek to the sci-fi and fantasy genre, I would like to extend our congratulations from those of us here at SciFiPundit, to both of these gentlemen for their outstanding work and their contributions to both stage and screen. And for those who do not know the rules of knighthood here is how it goes. In descending order, the honors are knighthoods, CBE, OBE and MBE. These honors are bestowed by the queen, but recipients are selected by committees of civil servants from nominations made by the government and the public. Knights are addressed as "sir" or "dame." Recipients of CBEs, OBEs and MBEs have no title but can put the letters after their names.

"Iron Man 2" Will Be Gold In Theaters This Summer

So I see promotions and trailers for this summers' film releases have begun with the Christmas season movies. I recently had the opportunity to see the newest trailer for "Iron Man 2" with Robert Downey Jr. reprising the role as industrialist playboy and super genius engineer Tony Stark/ Iron Man due out this summer and I must say I was pleasantly surprised in what I saw. I think fans of the first movie as well as readers of the comics will like what's in store. I will say that Robert Downey Jr. continues to impress me as a character, seeing him in the Soloist with Jamie Foxx this past year. I have my doubts that anyone else could have played the part Tony Stark any better. (Also looking forward to seeing him play the lead in the new "Sherlock Holmes" movie with Jude Law as "Dr Watson" and directed by Guy Ritchie). Mickey Rourke has taken up the gauntlet to play the newest villain "Whiplash" and the wonderful actor Don Cheadle will be playing Tony Starks friend, Col. James Rhodes/ "War Machine". If none of these character names from the comics ring a bell, you're either not a fan of the comics and movies or you will need to read up on your "Ironman" comics to refresh your memory. I have heard rumors from sources that one or possibly two other Marvel super heroes may make an appearance. So get ready for a rocking summer at the movies just don’t go setting up your tents at the theaters yet.

Move Over Peter Jackson, Fans Make Own LOTR Film

Some months ago (I know I am late on this post) I was asked to watch a well made 40 minute fan film titled the (The Hunt For Gollum) A film that has been picked for a showing at the Israel International SF Festival this past September and the Festival du Cinema Nouveau in Montreal Canada in October of 2009 and plenty of other places around the world. In the films first months release it attracted over 2 million viewers to the and well over 3.2 million after 3 months on both Dailymotion and You Tube for free viewing. The film was funded entirely by the film makers and made by dedicated fans of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien. I will say this, I think it is one of the best impendent films I have had the pleasure of watching in the last few years. I know my praise of this film is late in coming but it is here now and so are my thanks to the folks who put their time and energy into making it. I recently was told that as of December 2009, a second film is now out, titled "Born of Hope". So go find it on You Tube, where ever you watch vids and let me know what you think here at ScifiPundit.com

Sci Fi Shows Post Lower Ratings

So it would seem that main stream TV is not liking the sci-fi genre this season. ratings are down near 17% and shows such as Heroes, Smallville and Fringe are taking the biggest hits. These shows are down from last year and word has it that both fringe and Heroes are both close to cancellation if not already done. Heroes has been struggling for a few years now but NBC network has been keeping it on life support in the hopes it would regain its audience but the writing continues to be weak along with support from the studios and not to mention support from the fans, which seems to have dwindled as well. I was one of the die- hards, who held on past when I should have thrown in the towel. I believe that if the writers and studio would have listened to the fans this show could have continued on for years in the top 10 slot, but they would rather write it into an early grave. Fringe on the other hand is a well written show but had the bad luck of being sold to the Fox network, who in my opinion loves to kill scifi shows, just ask Joss Whedon after the cancellation of Dollhouse, the second show he has had yanked out from under him by the Fox Network. I hope at least Fringe survives for another season, but I am afraid Heroes is finished since I heard that NBC told the writers to finish up story lines. The good news is Chuck is coming back in January, so at least folks like me have something sci-fish (Is that a word?) to watch. There is good news for ABC network with high ratings for the Flash Foward and the reboot of the 80s show V, (which I love by the way). So lets hope scifi shows climb out of the toilet with ratings for our favorite genre.

Why Kirk is better than Picard?

My dear friend Cheryl found this and I must say I totally agree with the list and thanks to who ever wrote this, so please enjoy and I promise to post more stuff very soon

Why Kirk is better than Picard?

1. When Data died, Picard had a funeral. When Spock died, Kirk reconstituted the body, forced it’s soul back in, and even got him laid along the way.
2. When Picard senses that Wesley is having emotional problems he sits down and talks with him about it. When Kirk sensed that Charlie X was having emotional problems he took him to the gym and threw him around on the mats until he got over it.
3. When Picard went back in time he brought back Data’s head. When Kirk went back in time he brought back a blonde.
4. Picard’s Enterprise was destroyed by a couple of Klingon chicks while he was stranded on a desert planet. Kirk’s Enterprise was destroyed when he blew up a crew of Klingons, stole their ship, and resurrected Spock from the dead.
5. Kirk has caused computers to self-destruct by out-thinking them on three separate occasions.
6. When Picard was in the Academy he got stabbed in the heart. When Kirk was in the Academy he beat the unbeatable Kobyoshi Maru scenario and bagged Carol Marcus in his spare time.
7. When Sisko met Picard he told him he hated him. When Sisko met Kirk he got his autograph.
8. Kirk does not play the flute.
9. Picard is from France.
10. When Picard has a problem he talks to Guinan about it. When Kirk has a problem he shoots it.
11. When Kirk screams it echoes across the entire planet.
12. When Kirk blew up the Enterprise, Starfleet built him another one and had it ready by the time he got home.
13. Kirk collects antique guns. Picard collects antique matrioshka nesting dolls.
14. Kirk chastises omni-powerful super beings for not being polite to women.
15. Kirk sword fights someone on a regular basis.
16. Kirk’s Enterprise did not have a day care.
17. Kirk once ordered Scotty to fire a photon torpedo on his position and then he dodged out of the way so it hit the alien he was fighting.
18. Kirk has a violently deadly disease in his blood but he doesn’t let it slow him down any.
19. When it’s time for shore leave Kirk goes rock climbing and drinks whiskey. Picard wears nut smashing banana hammock speedos and reads by the pool.
20. Picard’s name is known and respected throughout Klingon space. Kirk’s name is cursed and vilified.
21. The only Klingon serving on Kirk’s bridge would be a dead one.
22. Kirk jumps horses in his spare time. Picard owns a fish.
23. Kirk would never allow an “acting ensign” to lock out his command codes.
24. Picard quotes Shakespeare for fun. Kirk quotes Shakespeare to intimidate his enemies.
25. Kirk’s jump kick projects 650 pounds of blunt force.
26. Kirk once made a cannon that shot diamonds.
27. Kirk defies superior alien beings on an almost daily basis.
28. When the evil aliens use a stun ray on the crew, Kirk always stays conscious for a minimum of 15 seconds longer than everyone else.
29. Kirk is on a first name basis with every single admiral in Starfleet.
30. Kirk once said: “You’re the Captain’s woman till he says your not.”
31. When Sarek mind melded with Picard, Picard cried a lot. When Sarek mind melded with Kirk, Kirk decided to hijack the Enterprise and bring Spock back from the dead.
32. Kirk can shoulder roll at 127 miles per hour.
33. Picard’s engineer wears goofy wrap-around sunglasses. Kirk’s engineer wears a kilt and can drink you under the table.
34. If Picard’s engineer has a headache it’s because he wore his Visor for too long. If Kirk’s engineer has a headache it’s because he has a hangover.
35. Kirk looks good in sideburns. Really good.
36. Picard drinks tea. Kirk drinks Saurian Brandy straight from the bottle.
37. Kirk mocks Federation bureaucrats that he doesn’t like and then proves that their aids are Klingon spies, just to make the point.
38. Kirk once became an Indian god with the power to resurrect the dead.
39. Kirk can beat a Vulcan at chess.
40. Kirk’s love affairs extend not only across space but across time as well.
41. Kirk’s dress uniform does not actually look like a dress.
42. Kirk looks good in a ripped shirt, and he knows it.
43. Kirk repopulated the Earth’s once extinct humpbacked whale species.
44. When Picard wants the ship to go faster he calls down to engineering and asks to go faster. When Kirk wants the ship to go faster he sling-shots it around the sun.
45. When Klingons invaded Picard’s Enterprise he carefully neutralized them. When Klingons invaded Kirk’s Enterprise he had a massive sword fight with them.
46. Kirk has fought evil duplicates of himself on numerous occasions, always with screaming involved.
47. Kirk’s greatest nemesis was the genetically superior ruler of over a quarter of the Earth. Picard’s greatest nemesis likes to dress like him and occasionally cause inconvenience.
48. Kirk has punched out at least one member of over three thousand known alien races.
49. Kirk would never allow his first officer to get more tail than he does.
50. No matter what world Picard goes to, Kirk was there first and probably has an illegitimate child somewhere on the planet. is offline Reply With Quote El Capitan View Public Profile Send a private message to El Capitan Find More Posts by El Capitan Old 07-30-2008, 05:03 AM #2 El Capitan Senior Member
El Capitan's Avatar
Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: An American in York, UK
Default 51. Everyone knows the phrase “Beam me up, Scotty!” The phrase, “Energize whenever you are ready, Mr. La Forge,” doesn’t exactly have the same notoriety.
52. Picard’s first officer is named after a bathroom code.
53. Kirk once yelled, “No blah-blah-blah! No blah-blah-blah!” and made it sound important.
54. Kirk’s hand phaser is sleek and sexy. Picard’s hand phaser looks like a Hoover dirt devil.
55. When Kirk wants to talk to the Enterprise he flips open his communicator dramatically. When Picard wants to talk to the Enterprise he has to tweak his own nipple.
56. Kirk’s youth was spent doing back breaking work on a farm in Iowa. Picard’s youth was spent squishing grapes with his toes in France.
57. Kirk fought the Greek god Apollo. And won.
58. The women on Picard’s ship wear long pants. On Kirk’s ship, miniskirts are mandatory.
59. Kirk’s middle name is Tiberius.
60. It runs in the family: Picard’s brother died trapped in a fire. Kirk’s brother died fighting swarms of alien invaders.
61. When Data hijacked the Enterprise, Picard was helpless to stop him. When Spock hijacked the Enterprise Kirk fought him to the death.
62. Kirk’s medical officer prescribes hard liquor as a cure all.
63. Kirk has heavy calluses on his right index finger from pressing the trigger on his phaser so many times.
64. When Kirk gets punched in the face he just wipes the blood off his lip and looks at it with a smirk.
65. Picard once wore formal Klingon robes for a Klingon ceremony. If Kirk ever wore Klingon robes it would be because he took them off a dead Klingon.
66. Kirk chops his own firewood.
67. Kirk once led a Mafia take over.
68. Kirk would have slept with Beverly Crusher by episode two.
69. In the episode “The Trouble With Tribbles” the tribbles bred at such a fast rate not because of instinct but because they were in the presence of Kirk.
70. When Deanna Troi talks about what she’s feeling, Picard listens carefully and thanks her for her input. Kirk would have called it “pillow talk.”
71. The emotional content level of Kirk’s speeches is an average of 782 times higher than the level of Picard’s speeches. If he’s talking about revolution, exploration or diversity, it is 1,089 times higher.
72. When Picard has an alien delegation on board he invites them to a quiet dinner. When Kirk has an alien delegation on board he gets plowed on Romulan Ale.
73. Kirk is familiar with 20th century slang.
74. The main computer on Kirk’s Enterprise once hit on him.
75. Kirk faced off against Wyatt Earp at the O.K. Corral and won.
76. Picard is a Frenchman with an English accent.
77. Kirk only requires thirty-two minutes of sleep a day.
78. Kirk eats multicolored nutrition squares because he’s too busy fighting stuff to eat a normal meal.
79. Kirk destroyed 672 uniform tunics during the Enterprise’s first five year mission.
80. 347 of those tunics were destroyed during combat with Klingons. The rest were destroyed by various women.
81. When Picard fought the Borg he got assimilated. When Kirk fought the Borg he blew up their planet.
82. When Kirk was sent to the prison camp on Rura Penthe he hadn’t bathed or changed his clothes in days and was wearing animal carcasses for warmth but Iman still threw herself at him the moment he arrived.
83. When Abraham Lincoln appeared floating in space in front of the Enterprise, Kirk didn’t even blink.
84. Kirk can break out of any jail cell that is located anywhere in time or space within one hour. Within one half hour if Spock is with him.
85. When Kirk disguised himself as a Romulan, he stole a cloaking device and used it to escape to Federation space. When Picard disguised himself as a Romulan he ate some soup and then got captured.
86. Denny Crane.
87. 87% of all Klingon opera is about the singer’s desire to kill Kirk.
88. The other 13% of all Klingon opera is about the singer’s desire to be killed by Kirk in glorious battle.
89. Kirk once taught an emotionless female android how to love. Then he broke up with her.
90. Kirk’s evil twin womanized and swilled brandy. Picard’s evil twin liked to have his scalp massaged by Ron Perlman.
91. Even though they haven’t existed for hundreds of years, Kirk can still sort of drive a stick shift.
92. Kirk never dressed in green tights and pretended to be Robin Hood, and if he had, someone would have paid for it.
93. Even though Kirk often pauses between words, no one ever dares interrupt him.
94. Kirk went to the center of the universe, met god and wasn’t impressed.
95. When Kirk says “boldly go,” he means it.
96. KHHAAAAANNNNNN!!!!!!!
97. Kirk blatantly disobeys one out of every five Starfleet orders just to remind them who’s really minding the store.
98. Starfleet estimates that the average Klingon has a 36% chance of being killed by Kirk at some point in their lifetime, regardless of their age, profession, location or social status.
99. Kirk once kicked a Klingon into the molten core of an exploding planet.
100. Style: Kirk did it first, he did it better and he did it wearing gold velour and Beatle-boots with a space girl on each arm.

SciFiPundit To Sit On Panels At Dragon Con 2009

So it seems all this blog writing is going to pay off. The (American Sci-Fi media track ) at this years Dragon Con would like me to sit on a few panels during the 2009 Dragon Con which I must say I am very happy to do. Two of them are on Friday night with the first being “At the Movies with.... (summer movies)” which begins at 7:00 pm I believe and the second one is called Southern Discomfort - True Blood discussion starting on Friday at 10:00 pm. based on a series of books called The Southern Vampire Series by Author Charlaine Harris And followed by another panel titled “Comedy and Humor in genre shows” Saturday at 10 am. Which unfortunately runs at the same time as the Dragon Con parade, but I am honored to be asked to sit in on these panels and discuss what is going on in TV and movies this year. I am very happy that two of my best friends Kat and Jason are attending the con for the first and most likely not their last. I look forward to them possibly being able sit in on one or two of the panels and hear what I think on these topics, but I have a funny feeling they will be way too busy taking in all the sights and sounds of this convention. So I will keep you all up to date on what happens. Please write us here at SciFiPundit with any questions or comments you might have. We love to hear from our readers.

The Black Pearl Preparing Set Sail Again In 2012

Disney studios is moving forward with their as always big plans for the Lone Ranger film with Johnnie Depp as the side kick Tonto with their wish of releasing the film in the summer of 2011. And as we all know Disney tends to make wishes come true, even their own. This latest development is putting a slight hold on the release of Pirates of the Caribbean 4 with director Rob Marshall, who directed the 2002 Academy Award winning film Chicago possibly at the (pardon the pun) Black Pearl helm sometime in 2012 and with the hope of Mr. Depp returning to his most famous or infamous role as Capt. Jack Sparrow. I personally see nothing wrong with new blood coming to the $2 billion Disney franchise, as long as the singing is kept to a minimum and the dancing is no more than a little pirate jig. Let’s hope anyways. “I do believe in pirates… I do… I do believe in pirates…” (Damn, I’ve been working the Renaissance Faire way too long this summer.)

Green Light For Lantern Film

I recently heard that Ryan Reynolds has signed to play D.C Comics Green Lantern, which is expected to be released in 2011. Ryan had won the role of the Green Lantern over other choices that had screen tested for the part including singer/actor Justin Timberlake and actor Nathan Fillion of Firefly and his latest work Castle. I did hear rumors that Nathan was the fan favorite for the role of Green Lantern, but we know how rumors go. Anyone with any news on this or any other scifi or fantasy topic drop us a line here at Scifipundit

Villians For Batman

Latest news from Comic con in San Diego is the next Batman movie will begin filming in 2010,but no word on who the next villain will be. Any suggestions for a bad guy?

What's At Stake for Harry Potter?

This is an editorial I wrote some time ago and did not place on my blog till now. I felt it has become necessary to run this view point with churches speaking out against the latest Harry Potter movie.

With the release of the latest film, news agencies should prepare for a newly ignited passion for book burnings and the banning of movies that depict any sort of witchcraft. While burning has become synonymous with witchcraft, it seems now that the practice of burning books about witches has become the modern equivalent. On 30 December 2001, The Alamogordo Christ Community Church scheduled a “Holy Bonfire” led by Pastor Jack Brock where 400 members of his congregation burned copies of Harry Potter novels by J.K. Rowling as well as other well known novels and works by such authors as Mark Twain, J.R.R. Tolkien and Shakespeare that they found offensive. The act of book burning shows a serious lack of respect for one of the principal rights on which our nation was founded - Freedom of the Press. Many lives have been sacrificed so that parishioners of Fundamentalist Christian Churches and other groups can tell the public what should or should not be read in their homes, schools, or libraries. And while these groups have the right to assemble, the right to their religious beliefs, and their right to say so in public, these freedoms do not give them the right to press their ideas upon others who are not interested or willing to listen. These inalienable rights based on our Constitution do not give any group the right to press their ideas upon others who do not follow the same beliefs or ideals. Burning or banning of books or movies is wrong for the simple fact it destroys the knowledge base enclosed in the writings or makes that knowledge unavailable to those who need or want it, and is based on unfounded and unwarranted views of other religions.

Books in and of themselves are harmless. They cannot wield a knife, they can not pull the trigger on a gun. The true danger is in the interpretation of the written word. The best-selling author Judy Blume explains this concept in an opinion editorial for the New York Times in October of 1999, when she says, “In my books, it's reality that’s seen as corrupting. With Harry Potter, the perceived danger is fantasy… the real danger is not in the books, but in laughing off those who ban them.” (par. 4-5) Blume is familiar with banning of books. She has written dozens of stories popular among children and teenagers. Several of those books have been banned from classrooms and libraries over the last 20 years at the request of parents who find her writing at odds with how they want to educate their children.

Extreme Fundamentalist Christian groups believe that if their children read these fantasy tales, such as the Harry Potter books, the kids will be led into witchcraft or Satanism. They hold the belief that the only acceptable reading materials are the stories in the Holy Bible. Seemingly magical acts, widely known and willing accepted in the Christian belief as miracles, are prevalent throughout the Holy Bible. Examples including changing water into wine, the raising of the dead, and the parting of the Red Sea. All these are similar to element in J.K. Rowling’s novels whose main character must continually fight evil and is learning to cast spells that seem miraculous to his friends. Similarly, both books show the snake as a representation of evil. They both show right over might with the slaying of a giant by someone who should be too small to accomplish the task – the defeat of the giant Goliath by a young boy named David, and Harry defeating the Dark Lord Voldemort. If Harry Potter is promoting magic, he is promoting the magic of the written word. A report by Yankelovich, a leading researcher in consumer trends, and Scholastic, the global children’s publisher, showed that the Harry Potter novels had a significant impact on reading levels in children. Something has finally drawn the kids away from the television and video games, and encouraged them to use their own imaginations. While reports of Extreme Christian groups burning Harry Potter books or requesting to have them banned from libraries and bookstores have become commonplace in the news, stories are not seen about Witches burning or banning Bibles or any other religious tome in protest to that in which they do not believe. Two Michigan pastors, T.D. Turner Sr. and his son T.D. Turner Jr., took offense to the Harry Potter books, and burned them outside their Jesus Non-Denominational church in August, 2003, as reported by David Serchuk of Forbes.com in December 2006. The Pastor Turner is quoted as saying, “Parents [have to] realize this is more than a fictional book…it’s attached to the occult.” Where are similar reports about Wiccans burning Bibles, or expressing their fear if their kids get their hands on The Book of Mormon?

Many of the reports of groups involved in the book burnings include an interesting tidbit – most of those burning the books admit they have not actually read any of the novels. They have based their opinions on the cover, or word of mouth about the general idea of the books. If these same groups actually read the novels, they would see a vast number of similarities, and fewer objectionable concepts than they might expect. Neither have they done their research to learn the true nature of Witchcraft and Satanism. These two ideologies have nothing to do with one another. Witches do not worship Satan – he is a Christian concept. The beliefs of witchcraft, otherwise known as Wicca, are centered on Nature and the Earth’s energy. The idea that Satanism and Witchcraft are the same is an insult to Wiccans.

The Harry Potter series books and films has come under fire (pun intended) in a handful of states where parents feel the books will encourage their children to show an interest in the occult, and have called for the series to be removed from classrooms and school libraries. A US District Court overturned a ruling the by School Board of Cedarville, Arkansas, that students were required to present written parental permission to check the Harry Potter books out of the school library. Billy Ray and Mary Counts sued the School Board and requested the ruling be overturned. Parents, religious leaders and educators are afraid of the violence they see surrounding children these days. They are doing all they can to protect the next generation. This fear for the safety of their children can become excessive, leading the parents or other well-meaning adults to take extreme measures such as removing the offensive literature from the reach of all kids, not just who share their religious or moral ethics. To quote a Jedi Master, “Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate” (Yoda) and this hate is being taken out on the books when they are burned or banned.

Writing this articale is not to press ideas or beliefs on the reader, unlike the Christian Fundamentalists who press their beliefs that reading the Harry Potter novels leads to occult activity. Rather, it is written to give the reader another way of looking at the novels and movies - through the eyes of a child, rather than the eyes of an adult. Religion is based on the belief in a higher being, not on the adventures of a 12-year-old boy as written by a once unemployed schoolteacher. While no good parent wants harm to come to his or her child, the crime of ignorance can be just as harmful. The parents are unintentionally causing harm to the next generation when they ban or burn books or films that they may disagree with, when those same books could lead to knowledge and a better understanding of the world.