dez'sPopLife

LOTR: Interview with Sean Astin plus directing "Angel"

Check out this lengthy interview with Sean Astin over at IGN FilmForce. On pages 2 and 3, Sean talks about his directorial debut on Angel.

[Link courtesy WHEDONesque]

World Idol: Vote 1 Guy Sebastian! Go the Fro!

UPDATE: I have started up a separate blog to discuss Australian Idol, dez's idolChat.

World Idol aired here on Boxing Day. For those that missed it you can read a round up here.

There's been quite a bit of discussion prompted by my original post on Guy Sebastian. Most agree with me on Guy but others have correctly pointed out that Kelly Clarkson of the USA and Kurt Nilsen of Norway gave great performances.

I think anyone of these three would be worthy winners of the title. Kelly really was great on the night and Kurt was a real surprise.

I thought Kelly was very courageous to take on a song synonymous with Aretha Franklin, but she pulled it off. Kurt also did a great rendition of a U2 classic. They both chose songs that really showed off their range. But I think Guy gave the most relaxed performance and was the most entertaining. Besides he performed his own musical arrangement of "What a wonderful world" which features is on his CD.

Other than these three, the other performances were pretty average. Some were verging on being technically good, such as Heinz Winckler's Don't Want To Miss a Thing (South Africa) or Will Young's Light My Fire (UK) but lacking in any character, passion or soul.

I personally also liked the heavy metal stylings of Belgium's Peter Evrard who sang Nirvana's Lithium. Even though that song is only associated with a bad relationship for me, I thought he did a fair job for what it was and showed some potential. And Peter made a good point about the lack opportunities for aspiring performers. When questioned about what someone like him was doing on a pop idol show he replied, You guys made it this way.

Anyway, I am still advocating a Number 1 vote for Guy. And I'm not saying that because I'm an Aussie. This is a very musically talented young man who is more than just a performer, he is an interpreter and has a very original approach to musical arrangements. He already has a truly amazing voice and with some guidance and a little vocal training, I think Guy will only go from strength to strength.

You can check out Guy's songs and find out more about Guy at the official website. (Be warned It's a gratuitous all Flash site...don't get me started on that one...) People not from Australia can purchase Guy's CD Just As I Am from Amazon.

Idol: New NZ Idol Weblog

Check out the new NZ Idol Weblog. Given that Idol is such a mass pehnomenon it is surprising that no one has done this before. Also check this story, A Popstar's view of the Pop-Idol phenomena.

the year in reality TV, 2003

reality blurred: the reality TV weblog is a blog by Andy Denhart devoted entirely to US reality TV shows and makes for interesting reading. Check out Andy's review of the year in reality TV, 2003.

Trivia on Buffy cast

You can find trivia and other info on just about every major Buffy cast member and recurring guest star (except the Trio) here. Granted this is part of the Am I annoying lists.

[Link courtesy WHEDONesque]

Alien vs. Predator: Sanna Lathan Is No Ripley

More AvP news, this time about the female lead,

Sanna Lathan, who co-stars in the upcoming franchise hybrid film Alien vs. Predator, told SCI FI Wire that she plays a strong female action hero, but that her character has little else in common with Sigourney Weaver's Ellen Ripley. "She's the same as Sigourney's Ripley character in that she's very strong and independent, but I think that's probably about it," Lathan said during an interview on the set in Prague. "For one [thing], it's actually not in the future. This movie happens before all of the Alien movies." [Sci Fi Wire] More

She's All Taken: Rachael Leigh Cook Engaged

Well it had to happen sometime I guess.

Rachael Leigh Cook [She's All That, Josey and the Pussy Cats, Anti Trust] is all that to fellow thesp Daniel Gillies. The camera-friendly twosome are engaged [Yahoo! News - Entertainment] More

Garner Becoming a 'Rules' Regular

Some 8 Simple Rules news, James Garner is a legend but whether he will be able to fill the hole left by John Ritter's tragic passing will remain to be seen,

The show's producer, Touchstone TV, has closed a deal with James Garner (news) to continue on the sophomore comedy as a regular, appearing in all remaining episodes of the season.[Yahoo! News - Entertainment] More

Constantine: Peter Stormare cast in role of Satan

News from another comic-to-movie production,

Peter Stormare (Fargo) will portray Satan in Warner Brothers' upcoming Constantine movie, an adaptation of the DC/Vertigo comic Hellblazer, Variety reported. Satan is the archenemy of the mystical troubleshooter John Constantine, who is portrayed by Keanu Reeves, the trade paper reported. [Sci Fi Wire] More

Constantine will also star Rachel Weisz and Tilda Swinton (Orlando). Also see this interview with Keanu on the Matrix, Constantine and Somethings Gotta Give.

Alien vs Predator: Henriksen Looks Back

Here's some Alien vs Predator news,

Lance Henriksen, who plays billionaire industrialist Charles Bishop Weyland in the upcoming franchise hybrid film Alien vs. Predator, told SCI FI Wire that director Paul W.S. Anderson wrote the role specifically for him, as a nod to the previous Alien films. I was the first one cast in the movie, Henriksen said in an interview on the set in Prague. Paul was gracious enough to literally, for two hours, tell me every scene in the movie. And I was stunned, because he has this incredible enthusiasm for what he's doing and what his vision is that he had the energy to do that. So I was really welcomed. [Sci Fi Wire] More