andPOP - Pop Culture With Substance

A caped crusader and a mysterious island lead the pack of nominees for the 2009 Saturn Awards.

The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror announced on Tuesdays its nominations for the annual awards, which recognize the year’s best in genre film making.

“The Dark Knight” received 11 nods to top the movie categories, including best film actor for Christian Bale and best action/adventure/thriller film. The Christopher Nolan-directed pic will compete in the latter category with “Changeling,” “Gran Torino,” “Quantum of Solace,” “Traitor” and “Valkyrie.”

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SIMPLY THE BEST

There comes a time each year where entertainment pundits everywhere reflect on the past 12 months of pop culture. We dissect the highs and lows, we place celebs on their respective naughty and nice lists and we relish the chance to give you our dissertation on the year’s hits and misses.

So basically, I’ve been waiting for this since New Year’s Day, ‘08.

It was a big year. Some monumental shit went down in 2008. America christened its first black president (holler!), Beijing brought sexy back to the Olympics (yeah!) and Canada proved its political system is just as screwed up- if not more- as anywhere else in the world (say what?). But this isn’t about politics; it’s about good ol’ fashioned fun.

It’s about celebrating the best movies, music, celebrity couples and Hollywood gossip.

So without further ado, here are my picks for the BEST of 2008.

5. RDJ

Robert Downey Jr. had a comeback of epic proportions this year. It was unexpected, it was career reviving and it was just plain kick-ass. Not only did Iron Man remind us that blockbuster movies can still be GOOD but it also provided the perfect vehicle to allow Sir RDJ to reintroduce himself. He went on to paint his face black and take on a role that could have seriously offended a whole lot of people but instead, he made us laugh hysterically. He’s nominated for a Golden Globe in ’09 and he’s also set to star in a Sherlock Holmes remake helmed by Guy Ritchie. Looks like this comeback is a keeper.

4. High School Musical 3

Obviously. If you frequent the Prerogative, you know I love High School Musical. So, when the franchise finally made the leap from TV movie to big-screen blockbuster, let’s just say it was a highlight. 2008 proved to be a good year for my boyfriend, Zac Efron- who would be number one on this list if I could think of a legitimate reason he should be, other than his obvious sexiness. Anyway, HSM 3 provided some good, wholesome fun for the entire family and reminded everyone that the year belonged to the tweens. They dictated the tabloid headlines, the top spots at the box office and the hits on the music charts. HSM’s soundtrack broke records and sold millions. To all the haters: It’s a classic people, BOW DOWN.

3. Brad and Angelina

Hollywood’s reigning royalty. The King and Queen of Tinseltown. The best of the best celebrity couples. Why? Because they know how to use the paparazzi in their favour. They know how to work their images. And best of all, they’ve got talent. 2008 showcased all of the above for the Sexiest Couple Alive. They welcomed twins, Knox and Vivienne, and sold the first pictures of the babies to People Magazine for an obscene amount of money. The media frenzy surrounding the twins ruled headlines in ’08 and solidified Brangelina as the couple everyone cares about. Career-wise, they both starred in movies that have Oscar-potential and did well at the box office. Oh yeah, and they refrained from talking about Brad’s ex, WhatsHerName, because no one cares.

2. Tina Fey/Sarah Palin

So I know I said this isn’t about politics but Tina Fey’s dead-on impersonation of that Alaskan governor we all loved to hate (or just hated) needs its much-deserved props. It was the best thing to happen to SNL this year. Heck, the best thing to happen to television, period. After Fey got people to notice her hilarity, 30 Rock got the attention it deserves and Sarah Palin got the ridicule that she deserved. Ya’ know?

1. Dark Knight

Do I need to elaborate? It was the best movie of the year, hands down. Christian Bale is the man. Comic book movies must forever bow down to the Dark Knight. Christopher Nolan is the best director in Hollywood. Heath Ledger blew us all away with his portrayal of the Joker. His death resonated so much more with the world because we realized the potential lost, the talent untapped. I just hope these rumours of Eddie Murphy playing the Riddler in the next one are false. Please, please don’t ruin this one- I still haven’t recovered from the massive letdown that was Quantum of Solace.

Honourable Mentions

Rhianna and Chris Brown – Beyonce and Jay Z who?

Gossip Girl – The Upper East Side will never be the same again.

Kings of Leon – Best album of the year.

Only three other movies have done it in Hollywood history.

Now, Warner Bros’ “Dark Knight” hopes to squeeze out some extra numbers and join “Titanic”, “Lord of the Rings: Return of the King” and “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”, as the fourth film to surpass the historical $1 billion dollar revenue mark.

With an original studio budget of $185 million, “Dark Knight” has at least quintupled that number in gross revenues, standing at $997.6 million.

“Dark Knight’s at a trickle now with no new territories,” Box Office Mojo’s Brandon Gray said in an email. “[But] it’s possible that it already has [hit the billion-dollar mark], as unreported grosses can suddenly come in.

And now that the count down is on to enter the billionaire club, according to E Online news, the ten digit goal may only be two weeks away, as “Dark Knight” hits the shelves on DVD release on December 9.

It seems that Ben Stiller can take down The Batman.

According to E! News, “The Dark Knight” finished the weekend box office in second place while Stiller’s “Tropic Thunder” took first place with an opening of $26 million – per studio estimates complied by Exhibitor Relations.

Although “The Dark Knight” failed to remain in the number one spot for the fifth weekend in the row, the Christopher Nolan film became the second all-time ranking movie by bringing in a total of $471.5 million dollars to date – beating out “Star Wars” which grossed $461 million domestically, including re-releases.

“Going in I would have been happy with $250 million,” Warner Bros. distribution chief Dan Fellman said today. “…We went for a ride like the public.”

The movie is expected to reach the $500 million landmark by the Labour Day weekend and it is likely to tap out at about $530 million – making it just about $70 million shy of Titanic’s $601 million domestic record.

“Titanic is king of the box office, and will remain that way forever,” said Fellan.

Christian Bale is a free man.

According to E! News, “The Dark Knight” star will not face any charges in regard to his highly-publicized arrest on suspicion of assaulting his mother and sister last month.

“We can today confirm that we have advised the Metropolitan Police Service that the actor Christian Bale should not face any charges,” the Crown Prosecution Service said in a statement. The CPS also said there was “insufficient evident to afford a realistic prospect of conviction” on the charges and that “the police have been advised that no further action should be taken against Mr. Bale.”

Bale has denied the allegations set against him. After the star was arrested and questioned, he was released by police on July 22.

Oscar winner Morgan Freeman has been released from Memphis’ Regional Medical Center – just four days after his car flipped in a serious crash.

According to E! News, “The Dark Knight” actor underwent a four-and-a-half-hour surgery for his injuries, hospital spokeswoman Kathy Stringer confirmed.

“I left the hospital today just after 12 noon, Memphis time,” Freeman said in a statement to E! News. “I’m doing very well. I feel really good.

“I just really, I thank the staff at Elvis Presley [Hospital] and many, many thanks to my many well-wishers. It’s great to know people care about you.”

The 71-year-old actor is said to be “doing well” and will likely have to wear a neck brace for the next six to eight months.

Freeman had quite the tough week. Earlier this week, it was confirmed that Freeman and his wife of 24 years, Myrna Colley-Lee, were planning to divorce. The pair has been quietly separated since December 2007.

Even Hollywood’s newest potheads could not beat Batman.

“The Dark Knight” took in another $26 million this past weekend and finished in the No. 1 spot for the fourth straight weekend. Batman beat out the stoner comedy “Pineapple Express”—which opened in second place with $22.4 million, according to studio estimates, reports E! News.

The Christopher Nolan Batman sequel has made a total of $441.5 million domestically and is No. 3 on the all-time domestic box-office charts, behind only “Titanic” ($600.8 million) and the original “Star Wars” ($461
million).

By this upcoming weekend, “The Dark Knight” is expected to surpass “Star Wars” and become No. 2 on the revenue charts.

Rounding out the top five box office movies were the following: “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor,” in third place with $16.1 million, “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2,” in fourth place with $10.8 million, and “Step Brothers,” came in fifth place with $8.9 million.

The investigation into the death of Heath Ledger has been closed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Good news for Mary-Kate Olsen, who refused to speak to authorities without immunity earlier this week.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office could have enforced a subpoena against Olsen, compelling her to testify in front of a federal grand jury. As previously reported, Mary-Kate was the first person to be called by Ledger’s housekeeper after finding the Dark Knight star dead in his apartment.

Ledger’s autopsy results found the actor had Oxycontin, Vicodin, Xanax, Valium, Temazepam and Doxylamine present in his system.

“Despite tabloid speculation, Mary-Kate Olsen had nothing whatsoever to do with the drugs found in Heath Ledger’s home or his body, and she does not know where he obtained them,” Olsen’s lawyer, Michael C. Miller, told People in a released statement.

Batman Forever Indeed.

The fastest-grossing blockbuster in Hollywood history took in another $43.8 million at the weekend box office, per studio estimates, reports E! News.

The Christopher Nolan film has already made $394.9 million in its three weeks of release and the movie is expected to easily break the $400 million within a few days.

The third sequel to the Mummy movies, “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon” debuted in second place with $42.5 million and is estimated to finish second behind “The Dark Knight.”

But is Warner Bros. executive Jeff Goldstein thinking that Batman has what it takes to beat the all-time record setter “Titanic”, which brought in $601 million domestically? “That’s so far out of the realm,” Goldstein said, “it’s not even on our radar.”

Christian Bale had huge success at the box office this weekend – but his personal life may be falling apart.

The “Dark Knight” star is being sued for assault by his mother and sister, reports the UK Sun. Bale is said to have lashed out at his family members on Sunday at Park Lane’s Dorchester Hotel in London.

Bale faces questioning, but police are giving him the benefit of the doubt; they even held off their investigation to allow Bale to attend the huge premier of the new Batman flick.

A source told The Sun, “It was a very difficult situation but it would have been wrong to have wrecked the premiere over a complaint which we don’t yet know is founded in truth. But Mr Bale will be contacted at the earliest opportunity and be asked to provide an account of anything that happened.”

A Met Police spokesperson confirmed they had receive the allegations from Bale’s family.