Hi-Sci-Fi

by Irma Arkus

Tom Baker is rumoured to be coming back for a special appearance in the new Doctor Who.

The rumour has been leaked by an insider from production, and the details are murky, but it is implied that the most beloved Timelord of all times, Tom Baker, will indeed be gracing the screens in the upcoming season of Doctor Who.

No confirmation yet on whether Baker will be appearing as a Timelord, or some other character, but one thing is for sure - we are excited.

Tom Baker had a great run playing the Doctor from 1974-1981. After this, he had a short stint as Sherlock Holmes, but overall, the roles he engaged were minor and to a great extent, critically lacklustre.

The comeback of Baker to the small screen was due to his narration of Little Britain, a show that catapulted Baker back to stardom.

The return of Baker, considered to be the best Doctor to grace the small screens, is a fantasy come true for every fan of this long-standing show. Before that happens though, I do encourage you to find out why Baker’s Doctor is seen as the “golden era” of television, and watch the 70s productions. I promise you no disappointments.

by Irma Arkus

Montreal’s Malajube captured my attention a few years back with their release Trompe L’Oeil (2006), a highly enjoyable, edgier indie pop-rock tunes, with significantly tastier titles like ‘Jus de Cannenberges,’ ‘Fille a Plumes’ and ‘Pate Filo.’ Filled with

Well, now Malajube is mightier than god, their image gracefully floating across pages of magazines, and everyone is tuning into their new album, Labyrinthes.

The Dears, Arcade Fire, and Wolf Parade are all familiar names that seem to be thrown in for good measure, but unncessarily so, as Labyrinthes deserves to be evaluated on its own merits.

And there are plenty of merits to Labyrinthes. The album is called by many “strange,” but features a healthy dose of prog-rock, sprinkled with heavier, moody funk added into its arraignment of sounds.

by Irma Arkus

Tomorrow is time for another installment of Dollhouse. If you haven’t caught the premier of the show, then here is the summary: Whedon produces new show, and it starts with Eliza Dushku performing as a serious kidnapping negotiator.

Alright, so I am simplifying the plot line. In reality, the show is a bit sexier, and quite a bit more complex. Dushku is Echo. And Echo is a sexbot, an empty-headed human body that can be implanted with foreign memories, but was not always void of personality and history. That is where the plot gets a little complicated.

Echo used to be a person, prior to sexbot employ. A person who, similarly to Dushku’s more famous slayer character, Faith, is in some kind of fierce trouble. Trouble so big, that she signs away all her rights, and her memories, allowing herself to be used for um, sexbot activities.

While the first episode was a bit of a drag, the storyline manages to quickly pick-up during the second episode.

Echo is on a “date” with a psychopath, who turns from an adventuresome climber and a passionate lover, into a merciless hunter of human prey.

While struggling to survive, Echo is drugged by her maniacal date. But the drug’s side effects are more interesting, as Echo’s mind grasps for memories that she did not know she had.

This goes hand in hand with the dramatic opening of the show, where one of the “tabula rasas” goes berserk, slaughtering everyone in the high tech compound. Everyone but Echo, that is.

This, apparently, is how Dr. Claire Saunders (Amy Acker) received her facial injuries consisting of numerous long, narrow cuts across her pretty face. Two things spring immediately to mind: why is it that the Doctor has not immediately proceeded with plastic surgery treatments for her face, considering the lavish and secretive outfit of her employers; and why the secrecy surrounding berserked subject’s survival?

For one, the attack reveals that the berserker in question is very much alive, and obsessed with Echo, practicing his homicidal techniques in order to draw more attention to Echo.

The second, and more intriguing conclusion, is that Whedon yet again exceedes expectations.

You see, Dr. Claire Saunders is not necessarily a medical examiner. She could be just someone implanted with the memories of a medical examiner, another borrowed body. And the same applies to all the other participants in the Dollhouse.

The question really is who is at the top. Who owns the program and why? Because if you think about it, it allows for a perfect crime, a perfect cover, and it successfully places suspicion on everyone being not what they are, or appear to be. Whedon’s second episode plants a seed of doubt in one’s mind, as he turns the familiar into a world of games and shadows, for in the world of Dollhouse, everyone is a potential doll, a sexbot, a killer.

I must admit, the first episode left me cold. But my veneration of Whedon’s work will always keep me glued to my seat. And this time, Whedon indulges us with a complex, layered, oniony world, in which nothing, not even oneself is sacred or unique.

by Irma Arkus

Hulk was good. Check!
Iron Man was great. Check!
But what about this $250,000 offer to Rourke???

According to NYMag, while Mickey Rourke is celebrated for his career ‘resurrection,’ his new offers are actually not that great. Or maybe it is just Marvel.

Apparently, Marvel Studios are “cautious,” although noone is sure why such cautiousness produces low offers to actors, and lack of contract renewal: Terrence Howard presumably wasn’t appearing in Iron Man 2 not because he didn’t want to, but because he was deemed too expensive.
Don Cheadle gladly took his place though. And Samuel Jackson initially refused to appear as Nick Fury, because the money was simply too low.

Now however, Mickey Rourke was invited to join the Iron Man 2 as a villain, but offered a meager $250,000, which doesn’t sound exactly like one of those paycheques that “real celebrities” are known for (Rourke would be Ivan or Whiplash.)

So, maybe it’s Rourke, and maybe, just maybe, it’s Marvel Studios. [NYMag]

by Irma Arkus

Or so Alan P. Boss says. The theoretical astrophysicist of Carnegie Institution of Washington, Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, says that his latest research indicates a “crowded” universe, teeming with life.

Comparing the idea to Rodenberry’s concept of manifold of species, civilisations, Boss contends that his calculations indicate that “there may be 100 billion Earth-like planets in the Milky Way.”

Discussing abundance of water, recently confirmed on Mars, would imply that quite possibly, the universe as we know it is full of complex and wonderful life.

Recent research supports it too. At University of Edinburgh, recent computer models, calculated new estimates showing Milky Way to contain over 360 civilisations.

The question that many pose is why we haven’t detected life, or more importantly, intelligent life. The better question would be, however, why we haven’t looked further for one. According to Boss, the universe is so crowded that we’re bound to do so, one way or another, and his new book The Crowded Universe, explores the importance of the search and the find.

Boss is also working on Kepler: the first NASA’s mission to locate Earth-like planets. Launching on March 5th, the Kepler is to identify those planets that are close enough to sun to keep water in a liquid state, a pre-condition for development of life.
[
Huliq]

by Irma Arkus

Scientific American warns against medical offices using p-2-p software, due to the fact that sometimes, sharing files also means a certain percent of medical records ending up online.

For example, SciAm quotes researchers finding some “20,000 hospital patients from the computer of a collection agency working for the hospital. Another search turned up a 1,718-page report with nearly 9,000 patient names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, insurers, group numbers and identification numbers.” The astounding amount of personal documents and patient information that seems to be shared with the world, is thought to be a growing problem, one that may increase as Obama administration prepares to upgrade the administrative systems and have the patient information exchanged online.

This however, is a problem that will not disapppear. For one, cutting down on administrative costs by the health care industry in US is a priority, as the US-based health care industry is not only the most expensive in the world, but the most inefficient as well.

The fear of placing the documentation online, really pales in comparison to concern of further disrepair to an “industry” that currently not only tends to lose patient information, but endangers people’s health. [Scientific American]

by Irma Arkus

Samuel Jackson has reportedly signed a contract for nine films. NINE. That’s a lot of Jackson, and the reason behind his multiple appearances is Nick Fury.

Marvel is currently developing a slew of films. The sequel to Iron Man, the now-in-production Thor, Captain America, and long awaited The Avengers, as well as their sequels, are all reported to have a little Nick Fury Magic.

Strangely, the Marvel corps were accused in press of being cheap with some of their contracts, as Terrence Howard suddenly did not get the expected contract for Iron Man sequel, and even Samuel Jackson expressed disdain over the thrift payment for his brief appearance at the end of Iron Man.

One thing is undoubted though: Marvel is making a lot of money by turning their comic book assets into cinematic blockbusters, and vice versa. We are going to see many of them, and they will be large. Moreover, they will be Jackson-ed.

by Irma Arkus

Sherlock Holmes, the newest incarnation of Arthur Conan Doyle’s legendary detective combined with that of Lionel Wigram’s masterful comic book, finally has a release date: December 5, 2009.

Even though that may seem like a long time to wait for a film, the cinematic promise of this particular one, is grand.

With Guy Richie in the directors seat, Robert Downey Jr. as Sherlock Holmes, Jude Law as Dr. Watson and Rachel McAdams as Irene Adler, the film is meant to provide a bonafide blockbuster. And not just any kind of blockbuster, but the one accompanied with excellent acting, a decent script, and enough money for lighting and editing…all those important “details” that a good movie makes.

The first glimpses of Sherlock Holmes have been shown during the Oscars. The first photos revealed a fragile, tanned Dr. Watson (Jude Law), who has just returned from Afghanistan. Sherlock is, of course, played by unmatched Robert Downey Jr., who can actually pull of the eccentricities that make Holmes, Holmes.

While at first I suspected that the film would be better in hands of Christopher Nolan, mostly because of an excellent experience that was The Prestige, Guy Richie has proven himself an excellent director. While his first successes, made up of choppy action crime dramas, such as Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, were met with great fan following, his next productions were less celebrated.

The “choppinness” of Revolver for example, made the film too neurotic, too incognruous for the audience unable to suspend their belief. However, the recent RocknRolla, Ritchie took the time to pace himself, reveal the plot, and still stick with his stylistic tried and true formula.

While the schtick may be unsuitable for Sherlock Holmes, it does imply that even Ritchie, with the right editing team and camera work, can produce a decent linear plot, great timing included.

So, now, we just have to wait and then watch. Meanwhile, there are a few floating photos, revealed by Warner Brothers to awaken our curiousity. And with that a few interesting rumours.

The last bit to come into the media, is that Sherlock Holmes, in this film version, is gay. While I would rather believe that if Holmes really existed, he would actually be bi-sexual, I am perfectly delighted at the prospect of a gay Holmes. Why? Because it would potentially rub the North American audiences the wrong way. And I love a good rub.

by Irma Arkus

Haven’t had enough of Marvel zombie madness? Apparently, neither did Scott Fields and James Ojala, who lovingly made a short film dedicated to their fave dead-but-alive superheroes. Check out the 2:09 short here.

by Irma Arkus

AdultSwim posted the 10 most Diabolical moments of Stewie Griffin, the uber-evil-wunderkind. Totally worth watching.

by Irma Arkus

David Brin, master of all scifi, has a new novella “Shoresteading.” The novella is available online, as Baens Universe decided to publish it for free (accepting donations of course,) split into a few precious pieces.

Most consider Brin to be an author leading the scifi pack these days. One of my professors had a saying - BearBrin - and it provides for a decent summary of what most fans consider the best of contemporary science fiction.

So, read on!

by Irma Arkus

Today is the day when you, yes you, can respond to CRTC’s request for public responses.

The request for comments is here:
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2008/pt2008-19.htm

To respond, go here:
http://support.crtc.gc.ca/rapidscin/default.aspx?lang=en
go to the bottom of the pages and click on the button labelled
pt2008-19-2

This week we talk about Net Neutrality with Steve Anderson of SaveOurNet, and discuss CRTCs hearings on New Media.

Then time for Dollhouse, Chimps, and signs of extraterrestrial life with Tarek.

Have ideas for shows? Wanna send us your love? Email hiscifi@gmail.com to tell all.

by Irma Arkus

Spike & Mike’s begins tonight with some amazing animation. Usually, the festival contains things that will make you sweat, barf, laugh, and then make you do all those again, as you are confronted with outrageous amounts of violence, mysogeny, gore, and all other inappropriate content.

That’s kind of the point of the entire exercise too: the festival showcases short animated films that will never reach your TVs (oh no, think of the children!), and are just deemed too inappropriate for people in general.

Vancouver’s Spike & Mike’s begins tonight, but you can check out the venues and see where the festival is featured in city near you. Moreover, the festival is actively seeking submissions, so if you ever had the urge to explore the darker side of animation, this just may be the place to showcase your, um, art.

by Irma Arkus

Net Neutrality hearings, open to public responses, are to close on Feb 23rd. That’s this upcoming Monday, so if you haven’t done it yet, I highly encourage you to do so!

Check out SaveOurNet.ca and NetNeutrality.ca to find out how to submit your responses to CRTC, or learn more about the issue. Oh, and I almost forgot - it’s free! And it even may save you money later.

by Irma Arkus

The erosion of our rights and freedoms has been a growing problem across the first world nations, and it has been coupled with improvements in technology that allows for more efficient surveillance methods.

What started with an excuse of “war on terror” or “fighting crime” has grown into a serious concern, as freedom of speech, freedom of movement, freedom of assembly, and pretty much all other freedoms have been on the sacrificing platter for the sake of some type of security and law enforcement or another.

UK, of all places, has served as a type of incubator for a lot of ideas of social control and civil rights curtailments by methods that are now up for sale in Canada and US.

Not only is UK one of the most surveilled nations, with CCTV capturing continuous movements of its citizens at every step, but its recent anti-terror legislation which allows the police to arrest anyone holding a camera or a recording device, has some members of UK public feeling that all of this has crossed a line of tolerance.

Now (seriously? only now?) UK academics and public have formed a convention on Modern Liberty. It contains some interesting blog posts, and videos about fundamental rights and freedoms that seem to have been flushed down the sink in the last decade or so. It is well worth the time and effort to check it out, and take some action, whether you are in UK or not. [Modern Liberty]

by Irma Arkus

Just when you thought that megafauna is a thing of the past, in Fuzhou, China, they catch a giant rat. Now that’s disgusting. [ Telegraph]

Wanna learn how to make these? Follow the link. Also, note the recipe for pork scratchings. Yees. Take that Vatican!

by Irma Arkus

After crying for months, awaiting Joss Whedon to delight and entertain me, I am quite frankly, disappointed.

Dollhouse, the show meant to delight, bring back the intelligent dialogue, the humour, the “chicks we dig,” did nothing for me. Instead of “getting my Whedon on,” I was faced with the undeniable facts: Dollhouse not only resembles all other TV shows currently running on Fox, but is solely centered on an actress, Eliza Dushku, who doesn’t really impress me anyways.

The central premise has no surprises, and we’ve been mulling over it for months. Dushku is a wide-eyed girl/sexpot, who is a sexbot harddrive, and as such may or may not contain a slew of borrowed memories. She is enrolled in a secret, private company program, that uses people as the sexbots they are.

Echo, Dushku’s pseudonym, resides in a palatial spa, filled with some familiar (Amy Acker) and some annoying (Fran Kranz) faces. She usually has no concerns, no worries, living a life resembling what most of us equate to that of an average celebrity.

But then Topher (Fran Kranz) loads her with memories, and presto!, Echo turns into an expert abductions negotiator. She winds her way through a negotiation with a pedophile murderer, only to “remember”
that she herself was kidnapped by the man in question. The memories are borrowed of course, so, Echo suffers through an emotional crisis of an unparalel depth…and this is where we get to watch Dushku’s shallow emotive output.

Let’s not forget that Eliza Dushku had already a stab at “ghost whisperer” territory with Tru Calling, a show that made me want to poke my eyes out on multiple occasions. It wasn’t great to watch her then, and it isn’t great to watch her now.

Topher is supposedly the “geek” who fiddles with the hardware and the software. But there is no witty reparte, no shiny brilliant dialogue or character development that would bring back the deliciousness of Whedon.

In fact, Whedon’s stylistic fingerprints are missing from the entire production. The entire show feels cautious, indistinguishable, average and severely lacking in elements of entertainment.

There are some highlights though. Sure, watching Dushku’s stabby attempts at acting is painful, but Tahmoh Penikett’s role as the cop who is investigating the conspiracy that is Dollhouse while exercising vigorously, seems like a beginning of something more intricate, complex and interesting.

Overall, the pilot was disappointing. But this is Whedon after all. So, before we entirely dismiss this as a total bore, we’ll have to keep on watching for a little while longer.

I bet that as soon as the going gets good, Dollhouse will already have been cancelled.

by Irma Arkus

“Dead Like Me” was a TV show unlike others. Which explains for its cancellation. Georgia Lass, possibly the cutest girl in the universe, gets killed by MIR station debris - a toilet seat to be exact (did not know they had toilet seats on MIR!!!) - only to face the imminent truth about death: you don’t necessarily die after all.

Georgia or “George” has to deal with getting over life as she knows it, and with her new job as a grim reaper. The job has scarce benefits, lousy pay, seriously dubious company, and to boot, no pay. In fact, in order to survive, George still has to pursue the kind of office jobs that made her want to end her life in the first place.

Starring Ellen Muth as George, and genial Mandy Patinkin as the “head grim reaper,” the TV show became a huge cult hit, with fans clamoring for more even after its sudden cancellation. The two seasons it did last, definitely left a mark, which is why “Dead Like Me: Life After Death” was produced.

“Dead Like Me: Life After Death” is a made-for-TV movie, bringing back George and co. This time around, Mandy Patinkin’s “Rube”, and the pancake house are nowhere to be seen. Apparently, Rube has “seen the lights” and the Dutch pancake house, the breakfast grounds for reapers everywhere, burned in a spiral of ashes and grease fumes.

That leaves George, Mason (Callum Blue), Daisy (Sarah Wynter), and Jasmine (Roxy Harvey) to deal with new management and their reaper duties. Led by Cameron (Henry Ian Cusick), who is a post-9/11 reaper, an obnoxious executive type who pursues his lavish lifestyle ways of rich and famous post-mortem, the gang experiences an equivalent of our economy’s highs and lows.

At first, they are lavished with attention, flaunting the “rules” of reaping. Cameron’s mantra is to not give a toss about the rules, so the gang indulges.

But they are soon to learn that not everything goes, and things don’t necessarily turn out for the better when they pursue their own wants and dreams.

The production is relatively low budget, and draws upon the fantastic collection of Dead Like Me comics. The show is laced with comic graphics, allowing to switfly move the story along.

The voiceover, which is presumably done by Ellen Muth, is of a very low quality. Since our little George has been trapped in an aging body, Muth’s unlikely development toward the husky, Catherine Turner-like vocal raspiness, took me by surprise. I found the whole voiceover kind of creepy, to be honest.

The lack of Patinkin has severly hampered the production, as “acting” is shouldered by Henry Ian Cusick, Christine Willes, Roxy Harvey and Cynthia Stevenson, all of whom have only a few precious lines to give.

The direction by Stephen Herek is competent if clumsy, but do not forget that the magic of editing is equally to blame.

Overall, for those, thirsting for a taste of Dead Like Me, the Life After Death is to provide that reviving morsel, and is well worth the view. But for those unfamiliar with the show, I would recommend turning to the original material, sticking instead with the viewing of the TV show.

This week we get Frank Garcia to tell all about his new book, Science Fiction Television Series, 1990 - 2004, and we learn about some behind-the-scenes moments from the mouths of babes: Frank spoke to directors, actors and writers of shows you hated and loved and he shares a lot of inside information with us.

Then we turn to agony of Valentines Day, and the fact that our staff is no good at whole “nicey flowers, lingerie, and relationship” stuff.

Dollhouse is to premier, so we fondly reminisce of favorite heroines and tell you a bit about the new Joss Whedon show.

And Darwin! We celebrate Charles Darwin’s b-day, and give you the goods on some latest advances in genetics.

That and much, much more: Net Neutrality in Canada, Sharks, Spike & Mike’s Animation Festival and an endless amount of fun!

So, hold on tight, and if you have any questions for us, or our guests, do send us mail - send your inquiries to hiscifi@gmail.com or add your comment below.

by Irma Arkus

As we pointed out a few weeks back, scientists are predominantly women, regardless of what your car/dental/optical commercial may tell you. Women rule in science, it’s just that their white coats, for some reason, don’t end up celebrated or seen. Apparently, until recently, all women scientists have been in hiding, in underground laboratories…but I digress.

Apparently, while held in captivity, women are on the Internets, blogging away, getting sciency-er. And we dig that.

Phlebotomy has published the top 50 science blogs by women, and they are fabulous. So, check these out and blog for science!!! [Phlebotomy]

by Irma Arkus

So, now that we’re all fully grown, we kind of resent children. This is, of course, supposedly going to clear away as soon as we acquire some of our own. After which, we will get baby mad, crazed, and mentally unprepared to let go.

Bit I digress. Torchwood’s latest, third season, is about to hit the airwaves, and they are presumably going against kids of the world. Yes, Torchwood also seems ambivalent about their liking of children.

Check out the trailer HERE

by Irma Arkus

NYTimes had a question/answer period with none other than Joss Whedon. The creator of the iconic Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Firefly, is about to embark on yet another TV venture, “Dollhouse.”

Dollhouse currently features Eliza Dushku as the protagonist, a sort of altered piece of humanity that can be wiped clean of memories, only to assume a desired role. As the perfect agent, Echo, Dushku represents the perfect woman: mentally pliant, transforming into the object of desire. Beneath all that though, is revealed that Echo is starting to gain self awareness, maybe even retaining some traces of her former self, muddying the waters of her existance.

The creator, Whedon, a fan and creator favorite (trust me on this one), revealed some pretty pertinent information, including what roles Dushku is to portray: she’s going to be a rich older woman who has died, she’s going to be a blind cult member, she’s going to be a dominatrix, she’s going to be a backup singer for a pop star, she’s going to be a safecracker, she’s going to be a somebody’s wife… see what I mean?

And though on the surface, the plot is some kind of wet dream for an average actor, resembling part Quantum Leap, part Pretender, part Alias, the elusive concept of identity of Echo, as a woman, lies at the heart of the show.

“[While] we as an audience are searching for her identity, but she is more searching for the concept of identity, at first,” explains Whedon.

Since everyone is awaiting the return of witty dialogues, and competent femmes, the demarcation of Whedon’s writing style, I just have add: I Can’t Wait!

by Irma Arkus

NYTimes has a panel with Joss Whedon, and it is open to its members. You get to ask questions, rate existing questions, and eventually get answers from Joss Whedon himself.

Check it out here.

by Irma Arkus

Having no chance to escape to theatres and review the sucker itself, yet, I am just going to give you the summary of incoming reviews for Neil Gaiman’s “Coraline.”

Kurt Loder of MTV.com writes: “this sophisticated stop-motion picture — literally years in the making — uses the latest visual technology to draw us deep into the complex layers of its animated world, where we marvel at the gemlike colors and swirling perspectives. Knowing that the picture was created one painstaking film frame at a time adds another dimension of wonder.”

While the visuals are exclaimed to be spectacular, it is really Neil Gaiman’s storytelling that does the job at creating a unique, frightening and engaging tale. Delfin Vigil of SFGate quotes director Henry Selick and gets a pretty accurate assesment of what makes Coraline different: “It seems like with children’s movies these days, if there is ever something truly evil or very dark, it turns out to be not so bad or it is easily defeated. For thousands of years, we’ve had storytellers warning the children, don’t go out in the dark or you’ll get eaten. Kids need to be in tune with that. Putting them in an artificial shell is not good. It’s unhealthy. And it stifles their imagination.” And Coraline does something else. Something entirely different.

James Verniere of Boston Herald calls the film a “delight,” while Jay Stone of Canada.com describes a “magnificent and unsettling animated movie…a technical marvel and the most imaginative film in memory.”

So yeah. Another Neil Gaiman film that will win audiences everywhere worth watching.

by Irma Arkus

So, I almost feel a tinge guilty for posting that horrifying clip of Bale being a supreme bitch-queen of the universe. But then again I am into audio, so I hope it can be forgiven.

The thing that really irked me when listening to it, as some of you pointed out, is that people who are rewarded with such creative jobs, like acting, and happen to make millions of dollars a year, unlike other actors who are kissing boards of your local theatre, should not be human beings. Nope. They should be humble and saintly. Especially the talented ones we admire for their chops. Such as…Christian Bale.

The media, and I do mean those doofuses that invade your living room talking their heads off about some drunken celebrity scandal or another, are all over this. Which makes me wanna wash my hands off the entire thing. To make things worse, I found today, a really awesome, almost teary description of how Bale is “gifted to us full of vulnerability and undeniable honesty.”

Harry Knapp wrote of his experience working with Christian Bale on Werner Herzog’s set for Rescue Dawn. Rescue Dawn was one of those ‘crazy if you take it’ roles, that Bale seems to have a knack for. Unlike the rest of the celebrity acting brood, he seems to actually give a damn about the art of acting, hence his peculiar and bold choice of scripts. Lets face it, most of them attempt at being “uglified” for a film, picking up an Oscar, and then proceeding with their next Will Smith project, or some equivalent exercise in inanity.

Bale on the other hand, has indulged in great physical exercises of shapeshifting to bring drama, fear, and adventure to the screens. His superhuman efforts gave us American Psycho, Rescue Dawn, and The Machinist. For the entertainment purposes he gave us the best Batman we could have hoped for, and an entirely great magician in The Prestige.

This is why Knapp’s description of Bale arriving to studios in an old, scratched up 80’s truck, looking like the guy next door. Knapp tells of Bale doing the Rescue Dawn as he asks: “how many movie stars would lose 60 pounds, starve and shoot for 50 days in the hot sticky jungle in a hot flight suit and lounge in the dirt? He did.”

Knapp kind of Jesus-fies Bale throughout his tales of our hero: “with both bare feet literally…running through fields of thorns and never complaining for a moment.” And comments on his rigorous strength of will with his dieting, something most would have a hard time enduring: “during lunch while the rest of us were scarfing insane Thai food he was nibbling on watermelon and sipping diet coke.”

It gets even more messianic, when Knapp describes a “real torture scene” performed by actors, who had Bale up by a rope: “during one of the torture scenes our Thai soldiers tie Christian’s hands behind his back, tie his feet together, hang him upside down and spin him…while he’s covered with real ants! This was dangerous for several reasons but mostly if the actors lost control of the rope holding him up he would fall and break his neck. Anyway we did the scene several times spinning and spinning him…he was getting ill.”

Thats you admiring Christian Bale, barefoot, hungry and all.

I not only feel bad for him, but wish him many movies co-starring with someone like Clooney, who would never run barefoot and starve for weeks, and yet still seems like a nice guy. [OpenSalon]

by Irma Arkus

Christian Bale went mad after a DP walked into a scene while inspecting the set lighting. The shiver-inducing audio reveals an angry Bale, who not only berrates the DP, but shouts at everyone on the set, including the director. Diva? You decide. [TMZ]

Oooh. And we have immediate update too! There is a music remix, available HERE. Viva la angry Bale!

This week we bring you the creator of CheapAss Games, and talk talk talk about science, end of the news, the world as we know it, and the latest in TV and film.

Love us? Have comments? Send us emails: hiscifi@gmail.com