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| CLUB
NEWS
OH HECK…JUST READ THEM ALL TV NEWS
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MOVIE
NEWS
30.KONG WILL BE ALL KIWI 31.HARRY POTTER 4 MAY END AS 4 AND 5 32.TRAVEL HAS WARNERS OPTION 33.THE TWO TOWERS HITS THE TOP FIVE 34.CLASSICS RETURNING TO STAR WARS 35.GOTHIKA STARTS SHOOTING 36.THERE’S HALF MAGIC TO BE FOUND ACTION FIGURE NEWS 37.BK JLA 38.COLLECTIBLES CORNER MUST SEE MOVIES IDENTITY, CONFIDENCE, X2, MATRIX, HULK, 28 DAYS LATER, LEAGUE INTERNET NEWS 40.FINDING IT FOR LESS! 41.ARE YOU GA GA OR DO YOU SAY YAHOO! 42.BOTH GAS AND DVD RENTAL PRICES GO DOWN TECHNOLOGY NEWS 43.DVR—AN EXPANDING ROLE? 44.WHERE WILL YOU HANG YOURS? FAREWELLS 45.A FAVORITE STAR TREK ALIEN DIES 46.MORLEY DIES AT AGE 93 47.ICS FAVORITE GONE |
| 1.APRIL MEETING - PART 1 – N-ICS-ELODEON
Our April 2003 presentation was a pleasant surprise to those of us expecting to sit back, relax and watch the presenter do all the work! Dave Willard kept us on our toes with a lively night of audience participation on the early days of films and film fandom. The energy was high as we took turns reading factoids from Dave’s handout. And luckily for those of us who are monolingual, Francophone Beth Vaught did an excellent job of reading a poem from Dave’s handout – the highlight of which was rhyming au fait with okay (I kept thinking it was pronounced ‘ow fat’, not ‘oh Fay’). Great job on the show, Dave! We’ll look forward to part 2 of your presentation in 2004. And let’s also give a big thank you to Charlie Wittig for assisting with the visual part of the presentation. 2.APRIL MEETING PART 2 – JILLA JALLA PEHECHAAN HO!
3.APRIL MEETING PART 3 – DR. SATAN NEEDS THE JAWS OF LIFE
4.APRIL MEETING PART 4 – MAY THE SCHWARZ BE WITH YOU!
5.NEWS OF OUR MAY MEETING: THE BASICS
6.SON-THING SPECIAL
7.THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE – ONE ICS ACADEMIC WINNER, THAT IS!
8.MINIMUM BID KID FAVORITES!
9.THIS TOPIC WILL SELF DESTRUCT ON MAY 10
10.FROM ONE VAMPIRE TO ANOTHER
“I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass. And I'm all out of bubblegum." Nada: THEY LIVE (1988) “I think we need a bigger boat!” Brody JAWS (1976) |
| 11.BUFFY FINAL COUNTDOWN GOES ON
There's no time to waste in the third-to-last BUFFY and Buffy was right about what needs to be done to get an edge over the First. As a result, everyone except Buffy is getting deeper in trouble, which isn't to say it was a mistake to throw Buffy out last week. In fact, they did her a favor. Before Buffy can get things back in order, she has to get over the insecurity that hung over her after some deaths occurred in the line of duty and her friends and loved ones wondered about doubts on her leadership. Some relief will come largely from Spike who, after berating the ''ungrateful traitors'' at Casa de Summers, seeks out Buffy and tells her eloquently and convincingly why he loves her. In the process, he proves, once again, that he's earned the right to be respected and -- yes -- even loved by her. He also reminds the Slayer who she is and helps her recover from the self-doubt that was making her so weary. It may seem sad that the Slayer had to cut herself off from everyone, but the truth is, she works better alone. Freed from the burden of protecting, training, leading, and inspiring all the accumulated hangers-on, and armed with Spike's confirmation that Caleb is guarding something important at the vineyard, Buffy steps up and outsmarts the evil preacher. In BUFFY where dialogue is often as much metaphor as communication, she takes control right away with her opening line, which tauntingly echoes their first confrontation (''Heard you got something of mine''). Then, when Caleb runs out of clever oration and resorts to calling her a whore, she mocks his pathetic name-calling (''You really should watch your language. If someone didn't know you, they might think you were a woman-hating jerk.''). The advantage has shifted to Buffy and then she finds her Excalibur. Last week it looked as if members of the Sunnydale crew were better off without Buffy. But, at least until they rally behind her again, it seems that she's better off without them. With Buffy back on top of her game, holding the weapon that should give her the winning edge, she's ready for another tricky encounter: the reappearance of Angel (David Boreanaz) in the last two episodes. 12.FANS AUCTION BUFFY PROPS
13.TO BOLDLY GO. . . DOWN THE RODDENBERRY HIGHWAY
14.ROBIN AND DAFFY ON CARTOON NETWORK
15.ASTRO BOY FROM 1963 AND BACK IN 2003
16.DONALD & HAUER BITE INTO SALEM
17.ANGEL FINALE UPENDS THINGS
18.ANOTHER CLASSIC ZONE
19.UNAIRED MIRACLES
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| May 23 - 26 BALTICON 37 will be held Memorial Day
Weekend, at the Wyndham Inner Harbor Hotel in Baltimore. They offer activities
and guests for a wide range of interests for science fiction fandom. Their
literary programming will feature philosophical debates, story crafting
tips and ideas, author readings and book signings.
There will be separate poetry, academic, literary and media tracks,
including a writer's workshop. Their science program continues with the
kind of briefings you see for industry, academic and government leaders.
There will also be special sessions about art, costuming and children activities
for kids 4-12. There'll be filking (science fiction-oriented folk music),
a masquerade, a large dealer's room, a gaming room, a computer room, L.A.R..P.
(Live Action Role Playing gaming), and a gaming room.
June 13-15 BUFFYCON will be held at the Holiday Inn
in Saddle Brook, New Jersey. It is a fan-run convention for BUFFY THE VAMPIRE
SLAYER, Angel, and all the associated comics and novels.
June 15-16 Asian Fantasy Film Expo! America's ultimate Japanese giant monster & sci-fi event kicks into its 3rd big year. It’s being held on at the Holiday Inn & Conference Center in Saddle Brook, New Jersey with an all new line-up of celebrity guests, professional presentations, exhibits, film screenings, a HUGE dealers room chock full of the latest Japanese sci-fi collectibles, a model kit building contest and lots more! Stay tuned to the web site for all the latest news and information as it develops. July 4-6 CastleCon 16 "The Washington area's most unique convention".
Featuring Gaming, LARPing, dealers' Room, Music, Dancing, Poetry, Art Gallery
(and Art Auction on Sunday), Discussions, Workshops, Movies, Miniatures-Painting.
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| 20.STEAMPUNK JLA DEBUTS
Adisakdi Tantimedh, writer of DC Comics' Justice League: Age of Wonder miniseries, says that H.G. Wells inspired his steampunk alternative superhero saga. Age of Wonder, part of DC's Elseworlds series of alternate histories, places Superman and the Justice League in 19th-century America and looks at their influence on the Industrial Revolution, among other things. "The initial spark for the story was the question 'What if H.G. Wells wrote a Superman story?'" Tantimedh said in an interview. "Since superheroes are an offshoot of science fiction, Superman and the Justice League were the perfect vehicles with which to explore themes of history and technological change." In the comic, Clark Kent, the Green Lantern, the Flash and Starman create the League of Science, witnesses to and catalysts of the dawn of a new age of science. But when industrialist Lex Luthor turns against them, the League must battle against the encroaching forces of chaos. "The Industrial Revolution was an interesting era. It was a no-brainer to stick Superman and the Justice League in that time just to see how they would affect the late 19th century and create an alternate history from the one we know," said Tantimedh, who is also an independent filmmaker. "The series explores how rapid technological change can alter a world and how the direction the world goes in can be hijacked by the agendas of businessmen and politicians." 21.POTTER IS BACK ON THE SHELVES
This section will be short reviews on books new and old and all read in this month ENDER’S GAME By ORSON SCOTT CARD $6.99
WHEN THE WIND BLOWS By JAMES PATTERSON $13.95
If any ICS members would like to share their view on a recent book that they’ve read – fiction or non-fiction, please email it attn betsy at ICSBETSPOTS@aol.com. |
| 37.BURGER KING BRINGS OUT THE JLA
Get your taste buds ready for some burgers! Burger King and Cartoon Network have joined forces to bring the JLA to the kids of America. BK has 7 JLA members as its happy meal toy this month. They come with a small comic to tell their story. I was chuckling because the comic came with the toy but in a small plastic bag. Not unlike a collectors bag – to keep it in mint condition I guess! The BK website has them all listed and even has a game that you can interactively play. I found it amazing how they interconnected various aspects of the media and the children of today’s interests. Someone on their marketing team was thinking back to when he was a kid. Check out the JLA members at BK today! 38.COLLECTIBLES CORNER
BY GARY ROBERSON
Having said all that, and giving you much food for
thought, I will be writing a column on collectibles and where you can get
them. What is out and what is new and what is hot!
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| 39.THE SUMMER BLOCKBUSTERS
The summer season of blockbusters doesn't officially kick off until May 2 (when X2: X-MEN UNITED, but until then, there are plenty of exciting options, both in theaters and on DVD, particularly for fans of thrillers. May finds that two biggest openers are crime dramas. In CONFIDENCE, Ed Burns plays a con man who rips off the wrong guy (Dustin Hoffman) and has to mastermind a $5 million score to make amends. Things go wrong ... or do they? In IDENTITY we find an Agatha Christie-style whodunit, with John Cusack and Ray Liotta are among a group of 10 strangers who arrive at a motel where folks keep turning up dead. Can anyone pinpoint the killer? THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN hands us a wonderful adaptation of a comic that not enough have read. And Sean Connery looks like he is having so much fun! Here are some release dates and cast info – Confidence Release Date: April 25th, 2003) MPAA Rating: R (for language, violence and sexuality/nudity) Cast: Edward Burns (Jake Vig), Rachel Weisz (Lily), Dustin Hoffman (King), Andy Garcia (Gunther Butan), Paul Giamatti (Gordo), Donal Logue (Lloyd Whitworth Director: James Foley (Glengarry Glen Ross, The Chamber, 1996's Fear, At Close Range) Premise: This is the story of a con man (Burns) whose latest scam puts him in debt with the mafia, when it turns out that his victim, an accountant, is a *mob* accountant, leading the kingpin (Hoffman) to hire an enforcer (G.) to shadow his every move, even as the con man and his crew work to pull off another scam for the mob to pay off the debt completely before they... come collecting. Identity release date April 25, 2003, MPAA Rating: R
X-Men 2 - Release Date: May 2nd, 2003 MPAA Rating: PG-13
Matrix reloaded - Release Date: May 15th, 2003
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| 40.FINDING IT FOR LESS!
DVD/video releases – here is a plug for DVD PRICE SEARCH!!! If you have a computer, go to this site - it's a wonderful resource and easy to use. Just type in the title or artist you're looking for and they'll give you at least 5 different outlets and what they're charging for it. 41.ARE YOU GA GA OVER GOOGLE OR DO YOU SAY YAHOO! TO YAHOO? Challenging the rival Google search engine Internet search provider Yahoo unveiled changes to its technology to insert directly information such as maps, yellow-page listings and weather forecasts into search results. Yahoo is trying to offer more relevant, precise and comprehensive data in response to Web users' search queries. For instance, if you type "New York weather" or "DVD players" into the search-query box, Yahoo will return weather symbols and information about the forecast for New York or specific DVD product data and pictures at the top of the search results. Currently, such a search on Yahoo typically returns a list of sites that offer weather forecasts or information about DVD players, requiring users to click on links to those sites to get specific data. By extracting details from such sites on an initial page of results, the new search technology is designed to eliminate at least one step for users. Yahoo is hoping to attract new users to its search service and entice existing Web surfers to stay longer, eventually driving up the amount of advertising revenue it receives per search. Search is one of the top two most-popular applications on the Web; the other is e-mail. Advertisers like putting their promotions in front of search users because it helps them get prospective consumers. and marketplace. Yahoo, which started as a type of Yellow Pages directory to the Web, initially made a name for itself as the place that Internet users went to search for information. It developed a directory powered by human "surfers," who act as librarians sorting and reviewing data to add to Yahoo's directory. Google, by contrast, relies entirely on computer technology to sift through the Web to find search results. It sells its search services to Yahoo, which uses them on its own online site in addition to directory listings. As Google's popularity has grown, however, the two companies are looking more like competitors for advertising dollars. In December, Yahoo signaled the need to develop its own search technology by buying Inktomi Inc. for $235 million. The Internet firm said it wanted to manage that service itself, because it is too important to its strategy of broadening its business beyond ad revenue and improving its products. But Google has tremendous momentum. The Mountain View, Calif., concern maintained more than 100,000 advertisers. More people on the Internet visit top-ranked Google for Web searches than No. 2 Yahoo, 42.BOTH GAS AND DVD RENTAL PRICES GO DOWN
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| 43.DVR—AN EXPANDING ROLE?
TiVo and ReplayTV haven't won vast numbers of converts, but those they have won swear by their digital video recorders (DVRs). Also known as personal video recorders (PVRs), these hard-disk–based devices are revolutionizing TV viewing as we've come to know it, allowing users to skip commercials, play "catch –up" with programs as they are recorded, perform seamless fast-forward and review, and free them from the tyranny of network scheduling. Despite opposition from broadcasters who perceive an economic threat in DVR's ability to skip commercials, DVRs are winning begrudging acceptance from cable and satellite services. Cable converter boxes and satellite receivers will increasingly be offered with inboard hard-disk recorders with TiVo-like capabilities. One unanticipated application for DVRs is accessing content on a user's personal computer On April 8, CNET News reported that TiVo has announced a software upgrade that will allow its Series2 digital video recorders to tap content stored on a home PC. The $99 upgrade to Home Media Option allows TiVo boxes to access and distribute content such as music files or digital photos stored on computer hard drives—both Macintosh and Windows PCs—and send them to video displays or audio systems through wired or wireless home networks. Your PC could become an audio or video jukebox or an archive of photographic art to be displayed anywhere in your home. In a properly networked system, the computer's hard drive could also be used as the storage medium for TiVo-accessed programming, making the two devices' functions somewhat interchangeable. 44.WHERE WILL YOU HANG YOURS? Affordable Plasma TVs ARE HERE!!! Although we can’t find any reviews yet on it, Gateway Computer Corporation is moving boldly into the home theatre arena and hopefully, into your living room with their entrance level plasma wall screen. This 42” widescreen TV comes with all the capabilities of the “HD capable” TV’s currently out there. Coming in at just under 70 pounds and 3.7 inches thick, you can hang this baby on your wall with the appropriate hardware or sit it on it’s optional stand. Who said big screen plasma’s are priced too high. This one goes for only $2,999.00. Sounds like a bargain – when you all get one, give us a call and the party can start there!
“We'll give him more than chains. He's always been king of his world,
but
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| 45.A FAVORITE STAR TREK ALIEN DIES
Kathie Browne McGavin, prolific T.V. actress of the 1950’s and 60’s and wife of actor Darren McGavin has died at age 63. She appeared in “The Sentry” episode of KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER and the “Wink of an Eye” episode of STAR TREK. Over the years she also appeared on such series as PERRY MASON, 77 SUNSET STRIP, WAGON TRAIN, MY FAVORITE MARTIAN, MANNIX, GUNSMOKE and HONDO. Among the actress' other credits were the motion pictures THE BRASS BOTTLE starring Tony Randall and Burl Ives, CINDERFELLA with Jerry Lewis and MURDER BY CONTRACT. 46.MORLEY DIES AT AGE 93 Karen Morley, who starred in such 1930s films as SCARFACE opposite Paul Muni, with Greta Garbo in MATA HARI and Jean Harlow in DINNER AT EIGHT , has died. Her genre movies included the MASK OF FU MANCHU and THE PHANTOM OF CRESTWOOD in 1932 and GABRIEL OVER THE WHITEHOUSE in 1933. She was born Mildred Litton on Dec. 12, 1909, in Ottumwa, Iowa and was adopted by well-to-do parents who moved her to Hollywood. After studying acting at The Pasadena Playhouse she was signed as a contract player by MGM and started her film future. After appearing in such other films as ARSENE LUPIN, MAN ABOUT TOWN, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, SAMSON AND DELILAH and the 1951 remake of M, Morley's career was ruined 50 years ago by the Hollywood horror of the Blacklist/McCarthyism that was going on then. In 1999 she told the San Francisco Weekly, "I was what you'd call a 'pillow red.' I became a communist because I happened to fall in love with a man who was a red and entered the Army to take care of the fascists, and I knew it would please him if I became one". She was 93. 47.ICS FAVORITE GONE Andrea King who was born in Paris, France with the birth name of Georgette Andre Barry has died at age 84 of natural causes. She was a “strikingly beautiful” actress appearing in a variety of films, including ICS favorites THE BEAST WITH FIVE FINGERS starring Peter Lorre and Robert Alda, RED PLANET MARS with Peter Graves, HOUSE OF BLACK DEATH with John Carradine and Lon Chaney Jr., and BLACKENSTEIN with John Hart. She started at 14 and went on from there to be signed to a contract in 1944 by Warner Brothers her stage name was changed by Jack Warner from Georgette McKee to Andrea King. She was most often cast in "bad girl" and "other woman" roles in the 1940s and '50s and appeared in films such as THE VERY THOUGHT OF YOU, GOD IS MY CO-PILOT, HOTEL BERLIN, MY WILD IRISH ROSE as Lillian Russell, MR. PEABODY AND THE MERMAID, THE LEMON DROP KID, DARBY’S RANDERS and DADDY’S GONE A-HUNTING. In the 1950’s when film roles dropped off somewhat, she turned to television starting with live appearances. The last big screen film she appeared in was THE COLOR OF EVENING in 1994. |
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by John Ward I have never been to the Bengies Drive-in, and at this point in
time, I may never get there. My wife isn’t keen on the idea; our
cars don’t exactly lend themselves to sustained, stretch-out-and-relax
comfort. And I’m not even sure my son would be willing to go, unless
of course he was permitted to take along his Game Boy and a boatload of
Double-As. Which makes me kind of wistful, because I have some very
fond memories of drive-ins.
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| MAY CALENDAR
MAY 2 X2 Opens MAY 10 SPY MUSEUM FIELD Trip MAY 15 MATRIX RELOADED Opens MAY 23-25 BALTICON – See ICS member JIM CHILDS in Live Theater. MAY 31 ICS MEETING 5:30 p.m.– and its ICS academic night! |
