Richards Coming To Pirates
Johnny Depp, who reprises the character of Captain Jack Sparrow in the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean sequels, told SCI FI Wire that he and director Gore Verbinski are still trying to schedule scenes with Rolling Stones rock star Keith Richards, who will play Sparrow's father, but that it looks promising. "It looks like it's going to happen," Depp told reporters at a news conference in Nassau, Bahamas, where the films are shooting. "But I don't know when. It's all going to depend on where we are and where he is, because he's got a little thing called the Rolling Stones tour to do."
Depp also confirmed that the first sequel, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, took an early hiatus because a key cast member fell ill. "We've been shooting Pirates 2 for, well, it's been a few months ... now," Depp said on June 26. "And we had a hiatus that was planned; actually, probably it was supposed to start ... tomorrow or the next day. And we went into the hiatus a bit early, because there were bits that we were going to shoot up in Grand Bahama [for which] sets and stuff weren't ready. But more than that, one of ... our actors, one of our main guys, Kevin McNally, who plays Gibbs, ended up with a really nasty ear infection in both ears, and he was in England and ... was unable to get on a plane. So they just weighed out all the options and said, 'We'll just break now. Go on hiatus. And when we start up again, we'll finish up the bit from 2.'"
Verbinski will shoot the first and second sequels back to back. Dead Man's Chest reunites the cast from Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, including Depp, Orlando Bloom (Will Turner) and Keira Knightley (Elizabeth Swann), and adds Bill Nighy as the ghostly Davy Jones.
Depp met with reporters to promote his upcoming Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but it was clear he had transitioned into full pirate mode: He sported a scraggly beard, gold-capped teeth and a tattoo with the name "Jack" and the image of a sparrow against a sunrise on his right forearm. But Depp said it was a pleasure returning to the franchise. "It's weird," he said. "We didn't quite know what to expect before we went back into ... Pirates 2. A lot of things happened. ... Orlando's, you know, [in] these big movies. And Keira, you know, all this stuff. And everybody's all over the map. And so we didn't quite know what to expect. And Gore, obviously, Gore's been working like a demon. But honestly, we stepped on the set the first day, and it was like, for me, jumping back into the skin of Captain Jack. ... It felt like we'd had a week off, you know, from the first one. And it's been a really great time, you know? Everybody's been super good and fun, and I think it's going to be good. I hope. I'll knock wood again."

Chow Shanghaid For Pirates 3
Disney and producer Jerry Bruckheimer have enlisted Chow Yun-fat for Pirates of the Caribbean 3, Variety reported. Chow will play Capt. Sao Feng, a notorious pirate who plays a major role in the second sequel to 2003's Disney blockbuster, the trade paper reported.
It is the Hong Kong native's first English-language role since 2003's Bulletproof Monk.
Pirates 2 and 3 are shooting back to back, with production scheduled through January. The shoot is currently in a scheduled hiatus so helmer Gore Verbinski can ready portions of Pirates 2, formally titled Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, for post-production, with an eye toward a July 2006 release. Pirates 3 is slated for summer 2007.
Shooting stopped June 10 and will resume in mid-August in Los Angeles, shifting back to Caribbean locations later in the year. Some Pirates 2 footage remains to be shot, but most of the remaining shooting days will be devoted to Pirates 3, the trade paper reported.

Acting for Disney scares Rolling Stone guitarist
KEITH Richards still can't commit to playing Johnny Depp's dad in the Pirates Of The Caribbean sequels.
Depp had famously based his Captain Jack Sparrow character on the Rolling Stones guitarist.
Although both of them spent a day on the film set and tried on some costumes, 62-year-old Richards said: 'But that doesn't mean I'm doing it. At the moment I've turned them down.
'They're shooting while I'm touring.
'I'd love to do it if there was no hassle, but it would be a side trip.
'I know what my gig is.
'The idea of working for Disney gives me the shivers in the first place.

Pirates' Depp: No Richards Cameo?
Johnny Depp, star of the upcoming sequel film Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, told SCI FI Wire that the much-hoped for cameo by Rolling Stones star Keith Richards may not happen after all. Richards was supposed to play the father of Depp's pirate character, Captain Jack Sparrow; Depp has famously said he modeled his Oscar-nominated performance as Sparrow in part on the legendary rocker.
Depp said in an interview that Richards has met with the filmmakers, but nothing has been shot. "No, it's sort of not totally official yet," Depp said at the Toronto International Film Festival, where he's attending the debut of director Tim Burton's Corpse Bride. "It might be. Everyone is trying. He's got a little tour to do," he added, referring to the Rolling Stones' current world tour.
Depp is in the middle of filming the second and third parts of the Pirates of the Caribbean series in the Bahamas. The sequels will be directed by Gore Verbinski, who helmed the first blockbuster installment, The Curse of the Black Pearl. The first sequel, Dead Man's Chest, is scheduled for 2006; the third movie doesn't have a name yet or a complete script.
Richards was quoted as saying he spent a great afternoon with Depp trying on costumes, but has turned them down for the moment. He added: "The idea of working for Disney gives me the shivers in the first place."

Pirates' Depp Hangs On To Sparrow
Johnny Depp told SCI FI Wire that he's already having separation anxiety about leaving behind his Pirates of the Caribbean character, Captain Jack Sparrow, as he wraps the second and third films in the series.
"It's weird, because sometimes separation is more emotional than others," Depp said at an intimate press conference at the Toronto International Film Festival, where he was promoting Tim Burton's Corpse Bride. "I remember after [Edward] Scissorhands, and I really feel like a dunce having to say this, but it's the truth, ... I remember the last day of that movie, it had been 89 days or something, and I remember after we did the makeup, I looked into the mirror and thinking, 'Well, this is it. This is the last time I'll see you.' So it becomes very emotional."
Somehow, Depp said that he knew he'd play Captain Jack Sparrow again, even before he was nominated for a best-actor Oscar for the role in the first film, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. "What happens to me is that with every character, once you've clicked into that character and you really know the guy, you become very close with him, and you love him," Depp said. "You enjoy playing him. So it's always very, very difficult at the end. There is that week to 10 days before wrap where you can feel and hear the clock ticking, and then you go through sometimes a really nasty kind of depression afterwards. There's an odd separation anxiety, because you've just been this person for a pretty good length of time, and then they're suddenly gone. For me, with Captain Jack, I had a sneaking suspicion that I'd see him again."
Depp said the new incarnation of his pirate role in the upcoming sequels will be a lot funnier than the first, and he said he wouldn't mind playing him again and again. The sequels are slated for a 2006 and 2007 release, though the script for the third one isn't even complete.
"It occurs to me that Jack Sparrow can be funny," Depp said. "So I'm going to try that this time. I'm just going to try and be funny. I don't know. The ideas of sequels and stuff like that was a very odd notion. I never quite understood the idea of doing that and stuff until you think as an actor that you've played a character for months and months and months. So I wanted to meet up with him again. I just wanted to be him again."
Depp added: "It's a very strange situation where you're as a grown man having separation anxiety with an imaginary character. It's worrisome, because you know it's not normal, but you can't stop yourself, because I just like the guy. He's a pal."

Knightley Talks Pirates
Keira Knightley, who is simultaneously shooting two sequel films to the hit fantasy adventure Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl, told the ComingSoon.net Web site that the project has consumed all of her energy. "It is my life now," she told the site in an interview while promoting her latest film, Domino, a biography of model-turned-bounty hunter Domino Harvey. "There is nothing else. We're doing them both at the same time, and we were halfway through as of yesterday. We were at 100 days yesterday, and we have at least another 100 to go. We've been going since February, but we've had about a month and a half off for hiatus because it's hurricane season."
Knightley said that she is very critical of her own work, but enjoyed having the chance to return to the character with new ideas. "I possibly hate every performance I've done and I would like to completely change it," she said. "So it's really difficult, therefore, to go back to a performance that I'd like to do completely differently and try to keep that continuity with it, because you suddenly go, 'Oh, but I wish I hadn't done that' and 'I wish she had been like this.' What's kind of nice is that it's three years on, so she's grown up a bit. So I can perhaps fix some of those things."
Knightley also promised that the first sequel, Dead Man's Chest, will defy expectations. "You have no idea what's going to happen in the second [film], and I promise you, it will surprise you." Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest is scheduled for release in the summer of 2006.

The new teaser trailer for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest has been linked through SCI FI Wire's Trailers page.
http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire2005/index.php?category=8

Below the Line magazine reported that the upcoming third Pirates of the Caribbean movie will be subtitled Uncharted Waters.


http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire2005/index.p...8&id=763&type=8

Pirates 3 Will Shoot In Summer
Uberproducer Jerry Bruckheimer told the ComingSoon.net Web site that production is almost finished on the upcoming sequel film Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and will begin on the third Pirates movie later this year. "We're in the Bahamas," he told the site. "We're finishing 2 and then doing 3. I think we have about five or six more days left on Pirates 2, and then we're done with it. We'll break in March and edit 2 and then go back at the end of the summer and finish 3."
Dead Man's Chest picks up the story of Capt. Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley). It opens July 7.

Pirates Link: http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?c...8&id=763&type=8

Keira Knightley In Oscars Air Drama
2006-03-11 10:03:36
Actress Keira Knightley was reportedly caught up in a mid-air fright when the flight she was on from the Oscars was hit by a weather storm.
The jet returning her to London Heathrow from Los Angeles had to make an emergency landing at Luton.
Ms Knightley was then chauffered to London after the pilot was refused permission to fly the short hop to Heathrow.
In a staement BA apologised for the diversion stating the pilot was forced to divert to Luton as a result of a severe thunderstorm causing the aircraft miss its Heathrow landing slot, and the jet didn't have the fuel to continue 'stacking' above Heathrow.
Although the aicraft refuelled at Luton the airport authorities did not have the neccessary equipment to get the plane on its way so it was decided to ferry the 350 passengers to London by coach.
http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/entertainment/150082004.htm

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest helped boost Disney's fourth-quarter profits to $782 million from $379 million and shoot up revenue 14 percent, to $8.78 billion in the three months from July to September, Variety reported.

Pirates’ Keira Knightly Links: http://search.yahoo.com/search?fr=ad-ms-1&...knightley&cs=bz

Pirates 2 Sets U.K. DVD Record
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest has become the fastest-selling DVD of all time in Britain, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The sequel film sold nearly 1.5 million copies in the U.K. during its first week of release, beginning Nov. 20. According to Buena Vista Home Video, which distributes the title, it accounted for one in four of all DVDs purchased in the U.K. last week.
Buena Vista Home Video said that demand has been so great it has ordered 1 million extra copies from its plant in Mexico, adding that if sales continue as they are, it believes the DVD could sell up to 3 million copies by the end of the year. The previous week-one sales record of 1.4 million units was set earlier this year by Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

High-Seas Disease: Infections Inspire Gruesome 'Pirates' Baddies
Special-effects team behind 'Caribbean' creatures looks to medical oddities for ideas.
by Shawn Adler
Bill Nighy as Davy Jones in "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" (Disney)
SAN FRANCISCO — It used to be that about the worst thing a pirate feared on the high seas was a rather dogged case of scurvy.
With "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" and its sequel, "Dead Man's Chest" — on DVD Tuesday (December 5) — the stakes have been raised. But even if you do find yourself press-ganged into Davy Jones' crew, it's still disease that will ultimately do you in, confessed Aaron McBride, the films' visual art director.
On a recent tour of George Lucas' special-effects studio Industrial Light and Magic, McBride said the look of Davy's crew was mostly taken from infections and disorders. Fifteen men on the dead man's chest, and — wouldn't you know it — not one had penicillin.
"The idea was that the longer you served on [Davy's ship] the Flying Dutchman, the more encrusted and calcified you became — caked with barnacles and sea life," McBride explained, showing a series of photos from concept drawings to final stills. "What we tried to do was develop a hierarchy to the curse where it starts out as a low-level infection — rosacea or acne or boils. It was a way to motivate larger departures from the human form."
Rosacea, acne, and boils (oh my!) are nothing compared to the diseases used as reference for those "larger departures," which include the character Maccus, a pirate with the head and torso of a hammerhead shark.
"[On Maccus] we wanted it to look like a mutation or a deformity, so we got a lot of really nasty references to things like elephantitis and acromegalia from some cool books that we found," McBride revealed. "We didn't want it to look like a happy marriage, so there's a lot of asymmetry — one eye is fully formed, while his human eye is swelling shut like you'd have with conjunctivitis or some kind of pink eye."
Acromegalia, a hormone disorder that enlarges the bones of the hands and feet (think André the Giant or the Bond villain Jaws) and elephantitis, a lymphatic disorder that thickens the sufferer's skin, are both rare but gruesome illnesses. McBride said he wasn't worried, however, that "Pirates" director Gore Verbinski would find them too horrible to be used as references on a family film.
"That's the cool thing about working with Gore — he really wants you to go as disturbing as possible. There wasn't any real worry that anything would be too frightening or scary," McBride said. "It's not a lot of bloody gore or something like that, because a lot of people get desensitized to that. It's just a very deformed kind of unsettling aesthetic."
Maccus, like all of the Dutchman's crew — including Davy Jones — were entirely computer-generated, a remarkable feat considering how much screen time the characters have with real-life actors. While arduous, McBride said this process allowed for more creative deformity, something animators wouldn't have been able to do with a guy in a suit.
"Gore said that he didn't want the guys to look gimmicky, to look high-concept where the gag was obvious. [If a guy] looked too much like a turtle, then he looked like a guy in a turtle costume," he said. "So Maccus, for example, we really flattened the back of his head, smashed in his nose — obviously you can't put a guy's cranium into that."
ILM is one of the best-known — and most successful — special-effects studios in the world. The studio has won 36 Oscars and is responsible for the effects in everything from "Star Wars" to "Harry Potter." Located in the Presidio, a park on the city's northern peninsula, ILM often keeps the same people on movie sequels for better continuity.
McBride said he's already creating new creatures for the third "Pirates" film, "At World's End," which opens in May (see "Keira Knightley Could Tell You About 'Pirates 3,' But She'd Have To Kill You"). "We just got approval for some of the designs [and] are actually working on between six and 10 new creatures," he said.
http://www.vh1.com/movies/news/articles/15...006/story.jhtml

Pirates walk the plank
7th December 2006 20:00:02
'Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End' is to be the last film in the adventure series.
Screenwriters Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio - who also penned the first two films 'The Curse of the Black Pearl' and 'Dead Man's Chest' - want the third instalment to be the final movie.
Elliott said: "'At World's End' is a fairly apt title. There is the idea of an end of an era - the golden age of piracy coming to a close."
Rossio added: "Certainly with 'At World's End' the tone is different. Like Ted said, there is an epic and of the era feel to it."
The announcement comes just weeks after Keira Knightley - who plays damsel Elizabeth Swann in the series - revealed she did not want to reprise her role for a fourth time.
She said at the time: "I've been playing this girl since I was 17. I'm 21 now and I'm onto very different things, but it's fun to try to invest Elizabeth with some rebellious spirit."

Pirates 2 Writers Fire Back
Terry Rossio and Ted Elliott, who co-wrote the screenplays for all three Pirates of the Caribbean films, told SCI FI Wire that they were bothered by the critical lashing of the second film, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest—not because the reviews were negative, but because they were poorly written. "The thing that you really want are reviews that are critical, that are analytical, eloquent, insightful and actually help elevate the understanding of the movie," Rossio said in an interview promoting the release of the film on DVD Dec. 5. "A lot of times critical reviews are sort of disconnected from the actual movie, and that's not really interesting or helpful."
Elliott added that he values creative criticism, but hasn't seen much of that in the press. "The one that always bothered me is that three-paragraph-long extended metaphor where you're comparing the movie to something that happened to you at Disneyland," he said. "That's not telling the filmmakers anything about the craft. Terry and I have debates about this, but I actually genuinely feel that there is dialogue between the critic and the artist—and I'm using artist here to mean somebody who works in the art realm; we're not making claims of any sort—and there are reviewers out there, there are critics out there, who do that. But for the most part, I mean, the level of film criticism right now, I think, is incredibly poor."
There is one place where Elliott and Rossio have found the kind of thoughtful analysis once expected from professional critics: the Internet. "You want the audience to enjoy it, obviously," he said. "And they did, which is great. But I do think it's kind of sad that in order to see any discussion of the existentialist themes that underlie the movie, I had to go to the fan boards, because it was not anywhere in any of the professional reviews. You're trying to look for a deeper analysis, and the deeper analyses are now coming in the new media."
The tepid response among critics didn't hurt the film's chances at the box office. It shattered records when it opened this summer and has grossed more than $1 billion worldwide to date. Elliott and Rossio have finished writing the third film in the trilogy, Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End, which completes filming early next year and will be released on Memorial Day weekend 2007. Dead Man's Chest, meanwhile, is now out on DVD.

Pirates 3 Ends Big
Terry Rossio, co-writer of the Pirates of the Caribbean film trilogy, told SCI FI Wire that the upcoming third and final film, Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End, will have a grand finale that sends the franchise off in an epic manner. "The most difficult thing about writing a trilogy is coming up with the climactic ending of the trilogy," Rossio said in an interview on Dec. 5 to promote that day's DVD release of the second film, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. "So for that third film, you have not only the usual challenges of coming up with an ending, but somehow you have to have the ending of all endings."
The third film finds Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) and Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) joining forces with Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) to save Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) from a watery grave. Part of the film was shot simultaneously with the second on location in the Caribbean, but production is scheduled to continue until early 2007. Rossio said that the cast and crew are already starting to feel wistful about the conclusion of the franchise.
"The one thing for me that's unique about At Worlds End is that there's a sense of finality to it," Rossio said. "Everybody on set feels it as we're winding down shooting. This is a giant, epic fantasy trilogy, and it's coming to a close. There's resolution to the characters. It is that sort of culmination of the storyline. It's coming to a climax. What couldn't be there in Dead Man's Chest is present in At Worlds End. And that's kind of interesting." At Worlds End is set to open Memorial Day weekend 2007.

Walk The Plank For Pirates 2 DVD
Disney is asking fans of its Pirates of the Caribbean films to dress up like pirates and come to Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood on Dec. 5 to walk the plank for a free copy of the Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest DVD.
Disney will erect a replica of the Black Pearl, Captain Jack Sparrow's pirate ship, in the theater's parking lot, from which fans can walk the plank into a 1,000-gallon tank of water. The festivities kick off at 3 p.m. local time and continue to 11 p.m.
Those who do will get a free copy of the two-disc collectors' edition DVD, which goes on sale that day.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest became the top-selling DVD of the holiday season, selling nearly 5 million units on its first day of release on Dec. 5 in North America, Disney announced.

Pirates 2 Tops DVD Sales
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest tallied first-week sales of 10.5 million units, making it the biggest home video debut of any new release this year, Disney reported to The Hollywood Reporter.
The sequel, which was also the top box-office earner of 2006, shot to first place on the Nielsen VideoScan First Alert sales chart for the week ending Dec. 10, and its draft pulled the original Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl back up to number nine a full three years after it was released.
On trade publication Home Media Magazine's video rental chart for the week, Dead Man's Chest also scored an easy victory, generating an estimated $12.9 million its first week out.
Dead Man's Chest is now poised to be the top-selling DVD of the year, beating another Disney title, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which was released in April and has since sold about 14 million copies.
The Pirates sequel also will likely become the top live-action DVD ever. That honor currently belongs to the original Pirates, which sold 9.9 million DVDs its first week out (and another 1.1 million VHS cassettes) and went on to sell more than 18 million units, discs and cassettes combined.

'Harry Potter,' 'Pirates,' 'Die Hard': Buzz On 2007's Biggest Flicks
Sequels rule list of anticipated blockbusters, which includes Steve Carell comedy 'Evan Almighty,' Matt Damon's 'Bourne Ultimatum.'
by Shawn Adler
Daniel Radcliffe in "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" (Warner Bros.)
In an age when international-ticket receipts, DVD sales, video games, merchandising and other ancillary markets can transform a box-office dud into a worldwide behemoth, Hollywood has had to rewrite the rules on blockbusters. For one, they had to change their name.
The term for such films is "tent poles" now, and just as well — it describes them better. With their sequels, prequels, spin-offs and adaptations, these films hold up a studio's schedule and protect the rest of its library from disaster.
Whatever you call them (we prefer "popcorn flick"), you'll have a hard time avoiding these 10 movies, the ones we're most excited to see in 2007:
10. "Transformers"
Their tagline promises they're "More than meets the eye," but with Michael Bay directing, we're not so sure (see " 'Transformers' Set Has Flashy Cars, Robot Models, Exploding Furbys"). The king of quick cuts and explosions — oh yeah, and $100 million movies — Bay may not be known for plumbing emotional depths, but who cares? "Transformers" is based on a toy line and centers on an intergalactic war between two groups of shape-shifting "Robots in Disguise." It's not "Anna Karenina." Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Megatron ... the only thing we care about is whether they look cool (see "Did Your Favorite Make The Cut? 'Transformers' Writers Reveal Robot Roster"). Based on the trailer, the answer is a resounding "Yes."
9. "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer"
What do you get for a near-omnipotent galactic herald who's able to change matter into pure energy and feeds on planets (he already has a kick-ass surfboard)? How about a sense of compassion? That's what die-hard "Fantastic Four" fans all want to give Norrin Radd, a.k.a. the Silver Surfer (see "Alba Breaks Car, But There's A Silver Lining On 'Fantastic' Sequel Set"). The original Stan Lee/ Jack Kirby story line saw the Surfer battle Mr. Fantastic, Sue Storm, the Thing and the Human Torch, but refuse to destroy Earth after learning kindness from Alicia Masters, Thing's girlfriend. Speaking of girlfriends, none come hotter than Frankie Raye (Beau Garrett), both metaphorically and literally. The blond bombshell figures to play a prominent role in the film, setting up an even bigger appearance in "Fantastic Four 3" when she becomes Nova, a creature of fire, the Surfer's replacement and the devourer of worlds.
8. "National Treasure: The Book of Secrets"
Sic semper Bruckheimer! Having billions of dollars means never having to say you're sorry — even if, like Benjamin Franklin Gates (Nicolas Cage), you've stolen the Declaration of Independence, kidnapped the head of the National Archive and led the FBI on a manhunt through the bowels of New York. All's fair, after all, in love and treasure hunting. After unwrapping the riddles of the Founding Fathers in 2004's "National Treasure," Ben and his motley crew are back, this time searching for Confederate gold and the meaning behind 18 missing pages from Abraham Lincoln's diary.
7. "Evan Almighty"
It might be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the men who made this movie to enter the kingdom of heaven. That's because at a budgeted cost of more than $140 million (and climbing), "Evan Almighty" is the most expensive comedy ever made. We doubt the filmmakers are worried, though. Starring Steve Carell as Evan Baxter, the erstwhile news anchor from "Bruce Almighty" who has since been elected to Congress, "Evan Almighty" is that rare beast, the comedy blockbuster — and we promise you they don't come two by two. It'll be more than 40 days and 40 nights till we see Carell build an ark and escape the Flood: "Evan Almighty" opens June 22.
6. "His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass"
Not many popular children's stories claim inspiration from "Paradise Lost," but not many children's stories are as oppressively dark and despairing as "The Golden Compass," Philip Pullman's first book in the "His Dark Materials" trilogy. A condemnation of religion, "His Golden Compass" follows Lyra Belacqua, a young girl who ventures to rescue her uncle, the Lord Asriel (Daniel Craig), from the clutches of a band of war-mongering, anthropomorphic bears and the evil Mrs. Coulter (Nicole Kidman) — a state representative who not only kidnaps children, but kills them by removing their souls, which are called daemons in "Compass" and exist outside the body. Here's hoping director Chris Weitz ("About a Boy") has the guts to end the movie as the book ended: with a death, a decision and a major cliffhanger.
5. "Live Free or Die Hard"
Long before there was a Jack Bauer, John McClane (Bruce Willis) had a series of very bad days. The first postmodern action star, the indefatigable and often bare-chested McClane winked, prodded and joked his way to saving a skyscraper, an airport and all of Manhattan (not to mention his wife, twice). Now McClane is joined by Justin Long as hacker Matt Foster and Mary Elizabeth Winstead as John's daughter, Lucy, as he battles cyber-terrorist Timothy Olyphant in the series' fourth installment (see "Never Say 'Die': Bruce Willis Fights Terrorists In 'Die Hard' Sequel"). It's a high-tech, high-voltage return to '80s action that has us screaming "Yippee-ki-yay, mother----er."
4. "The Bourne Ultimatum"
Shaky, violent, jumpy — this film's visual style mirrors its title character's behavior and is at last the perfect fit for hand-held action sequences (see "Matt Damon To Be Bourne Again — And Perhaps Again And Again"). We'd love to tell you more about the plot, but even reading the book won't help us here — director Paul Greengrass and writers Tony Gilroy and Tom Stoppard have made a habit out of deviating from the source material. Bank on Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) trying to figure out more about his past as he battles bad guys across the globe. Julia Stiles and Joan Allen return for the final installment in a series that has influenced everything from "Batman Begins" to "Casino Royale."
3. "Spider-Man 3"
Even a spider can be pulled in too many directions. Just ask Peter Parker — in next summer's "Spider-Man 3," the man they call "Amazing" battles three super-villains (Sandman, Venom and the new Goblin), two friends-turned-enemies (Eddie Brock and Harry Osborn), two love interests (Mary Jane and the new Gwen Stacy) an intergalactic space symbiote that attaches itself to his suit and a partridge in a pear tree (see " 'Spider-Man 3' Cast Confirms Love Triangle, Death, Soul-Sucking Costume"). Topher Grace, Byrce Dallas Howard and Thomas Haden Church join the action in a follow-up to what was perhaps the best comic book movie ever made. Tobey Maguire spins his web May 4, a date that was chosen before "Spider-Man 2" was even released.
2. "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"
The roller coaster first two "Pirates" movies reached such great heights it's a wonder no one got seasick. In "At World's End," the future of piracy is at stake — not to mention the future of Captain Jack (Johnny Depp), perhaps the most original character in recent memory. Last seen in the mouth of a giant Krakken, Jack is rescued from Davy Jones' locker by Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) — a bigger wreck than maybe even his Pearl. Once freed, Jack Sparrow will face Davy Jones and "Bootstrap" Bill Turner, Lord Beckett and Admiral Norrington, Singapore pirate Sao Feng (Chow Yun-Fat), and, surprise, Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush). Yo, ho, ho and a bottle of Tums — "Pirates 3" opens on Memorial Day.
1. "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix"
"It is time for me to tell you what I should have told you five years ago," Dumbledore tells Harry Potter in "Order of the Phoenix" (see " 'Phoenix' Trailer Reveals A Harry Potter Who's Ready To Fight — And Kiss"). "I am going to tell you everything." And so he does. The real question is whether or not he'll tell us — the explanatory resolutions at the end of Rowling's books have been among the most glaring and obvious omissions from the series' films. And with big characters and plot points that fans reference with capital letters — the Prophesy, the Giant, the Senior Undersecretary, the Death, the Loon, the Order — there's enough here for two movies. After the series' climax in "Goblet of Fire," Harry tries to warn the world of the return of Lord Voldemort to no avail. Fans with a keen eye will be attempting to divine possible plot points for the seventh and final book: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." No time-turners allowed — the film opens July 13.
http://www.vh1.com/movies/news/articles/15...103/story.jhtml

SF Films Drove DVDs Up In '06
Thanks to the release of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest on DVD in December, home-video sales were up slightly in 2006, after the first down year in history in 2005, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The action-adventure sequel sold 10.5 million DVDs its first week in stores, putting it on track to become the top-selling live-action DVD ever.
"Everyone's feeling pretty good," 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment president Mike Dunn told the trade paper. "Thanks to the fourth quarter, the year may wind up in positive territory, and a big reason is the strong slate of summer theatricals—as well as TV-DVD and some really strong catalog titles and promotions.
Sales were also strong for X-Men: The Last Stand and The Little Mermaid Platinum Edition, which generated $80 million in consumer spending in a single day. But the fourth-quarter DVD sales rally was probably the biggest home-entertainment story of 2006, even though it didn't make the biggest headlines. Studios are now looking forward to 2007 and the release of highly anticipated sequels to Harry Potter, Spider-Man, Pirates of the Caribbean and Shrek to drive business in the coming year.

Pirates 2 DVD Is Tops Again
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, which had the biggest home-video debut of the year, once again climbed to the top of the sales charts after spending a week in second place, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The film, which was also the top performer at the box office in 2006, was number one on the Nielsen VideoScan First Alert chart for the week ending Dec. 24.
The film beat a number of new releases, including M. Night Shyamalan's Lady in the Water, which debuted at number 13. On trade publication Home Media Magazine's rental chart for the week, Water fared slightly better, coming in at number 12, with rental revenues of $4 million.

Pirates 2 Is People's Choice
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and its stars Johnny Depp and Keira Knightley led winners during the 33rd annual People's Choice Awards on Jan. 9, the Associated Press reported. The movies Click and Cars were also winners.
Depp, appearing by satellite from London, said he was humbled by the honor.
Jennifer Aniston, Ellen DeGeneres, Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Nickelback, Justin Timberlake, Eva Longoria and Patrick Dempsey were also favorites.
The awards show aired on CBS from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles and was hosted by Queen Latifah. Winners were picked by public Internet balloting.

Pirates Leads F/X Nods
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest led the field with six nominations as the Visual Effects Society announced its nominees for the fifth annual VES Awards, Variety reported.
Dead Man's Chest took nods for visual effects in an effects-driven motion picture and single visual effect of the year, as well as animated character in a live-action motion picture, created environment in a live-action motion picture, miniatures and models in a motion picture and compositing.
The other nominees for visual effects in an effects-driven motion picture were The Fountain and Charlotte's Web. Neither made the list of seven semifinalists that will compete for Oscar nominations.
Casino Royale and Superman Returns, meanwhile, were nominated by the Visual Effects Society for special effects, for work in in-camera practical effects.
Among the nominees for visual effects, which are created in post-production, are Children of Men and The Da Vinci Code.
Children of Men and X-Men: The Last Stand were nominated along with Dead Man's Chest for best single visual effect.
Charlotte's Web took two nominations for top animated character in a live-action film for its title talking spider and for the talking rat Templeton.
In television, SCI FI Channel's original series Battlestar Galactica joined Prehistoric Park and Smallville with nominations for visual effects in a series.
Nominees in all categories will present their work on Jan. 13 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. Voting will take place online between Jan. 22 and Feb. 6. Winners of the VES Awards will be announced Feb. 11 at the Kodak Grand Ballroom in Hollywood. Visual-effects pioneer Dennis Muren will receive the VES lifetime achievement award that night.

The SF&F movies X-Men: The Last Stand, Click, Pan's Labyrinth, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, The Prestige and The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause are among the seven films making the shortlist for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' competition for the best makeup Oscar, Variety reported.

Several SF&F movies have made the shortlist of movies contending for an Oscar nomination for makeup, including Click, Pan's Labyrinth, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, The Prestige, The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause and X-Men: The Last Stand.

Tinseltown Meets Toytown: Harry Potter, Spider-Man Steal Toy Fair Spotlight
Transformers, Pirates of the Caribbean also get their very own playthings at NYC event.
by Brian Jacks
NEW YORK — Wizards from Hogwarts mingled with intergalactic robots as the American International Toy Fair opened Sunday.
The annual trade event brought together thousands of companies — ranging from international conglomerates to mom-and-pop operations — as eager exhibitors hawked their wares to an assemblage of retailers, journalists and at least one man in a dragon costume.
The festivities kicked off in galactic fashion, as "Star Wars" creator George Lucas was inducted into the toy industry's Hall of Fame, his peers paying homage to the man who launched a merchandising behemoth and put action figures on Hollywood's radar (see "George Lucas Talks Retirement, Brand-New Film, 'Indy 4,' 'Star Wars' "). With movie studios now firmly in licensing mode, however, Lucas' perennial space opera would be only one of many blockbuster films represented on the show floor as Tinseltown launched its opening salvo on Toytown.
Perhaps nowhere else was the buzz greater than in Hasbro's two-story showroom, where the company unveiled a full slate of products tied to director Michael Bay's heavily anticipated "Transformers." While standard figures will be released for such principal characters as Optimus Prime, Megatron, Scorponok, Barricade, Jazz and Bumblebee (see "Did Your Favorite Make The Cut? 'Transformers' Writers Reveal Robot Roster"), it's the last name on the list that will receive extra-special treatment. Under the "Ultimate Bumblebee" moniker, Hasbro will release a massive 14-inch version of the fan-favorite Autobot that features working headlights, battle sounds and, most notably, a stable of songs including Devo's "Whip It." Rounding out the collection will be a hodgepodge of other merchandise, including a chess set, an Optimus Prime voice-changer helmet and surely the most fun of all, a custom-designed Mr. Potato Head doll named Optimash Prime.
Marvel's billion-dollar web-slinger was also on full display as toy companies prepped for the summer release of "Spider-Man 3" (see " 'Spider-Man 3' Cast Confirms Love Triangle, Death, Soul-Sucking Costume"). Come March 24, Hasbro's line of action figures will hit shelves. The first wave will feature the title character in both red and black costumes, as well as Venom, New Goblin and Sandman, with each figure receiving an "action feature" such as Sandman's spring-fired mallet. The company will also release yet another specialty Mr. Potato Head, this one being Spider-Spud. Pricier pieces were on display at the Sideshow Collectibles booth, with the outfit readying several busts and statues connected to the film, including a mammoth 16-inch-tall sculpture of Venom perched on a ledge. Art Asylum will release the full cast as part of its diminutive "Minimates" line. Also, Diamond Select will release additional statues and busts, as well as a replica pumpkin bomb.
Over at NECA (best known for its Stay Puft Marshmallow Man and "A Christmas Story" leg lamp), the company celebrated the acquisition of the "Harry Potter" toy license with figures related to the franchise's fifth film, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" (see " 'Phoenix' Trailer Reveals A Harry Potter Who's Ready To Fight — And Kiss"). Four 7-inch figures will be released in the first series, including Harry, Ron, Hermione and Sirius Black, with the next wave adding Dumbledore, the Death Eaters and a new version of Harry. "Potter" madness also extended to LEGO, which will release a 1,000-piece Hogwarts Castle playset equipped with everything from a Thestral to a Dolores Umbridge figure. And Jelly Belly will release "Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans," featuring varieties such as Earwax, Booger and Vomit.
Products for New Line Cinema's blockbuster-to-be "His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass" were front and center at the Corgi booth, a company that recently arrived on American shores thanks to its merger with high-end collectible makers Master Replicas. A full line of highly detailed, 3 3/4-inch figures will be released of the film's human characters packaged with their dæmon, the soul's physical manifestation (see "Armored Polar Bears, Stolen Souls: A Guide To 'His Dark Materials' "). Additional pieces will include Mrs. Coulter's chariot and zeppelin, Lee Scoresby's airship and a huge playset for the armored bear's palace. Additional merchandise will include the alethiometer, spy flies, battle bears and a series of six 12-inch statues, among other items.
Not to be outdone by landlubbers, "Pirates of the Caribbean" found itself parked back at NECA, which is preparing a line of 7-inch figures for the trilogy's third film, "At World's End." New editions of Jack Sparrow and Elizabeth Swann will be released in June, along with Chow Yun Fat's Mongolian pirate, Captain Sao Feng, and 12- and 18-inch versions of Jack Sparrow equipped with a voice chip.
NECA, which is quickly becoming a major player, also laid claim to Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez's double feature, "Grindhouse" (see "Fergie Helping Tarantino, Rodriguez 'Grind' Out Horror Flick"). Coinciding with the April theatrical premiere, the manufacturer will release figures from Rodriguez's portion of the project, "Planet Terror," with 7-inch figures of Rose McGowan's Cherry, Quentin Tarantino's Rapist and Marley Shelton's Dakota. Following in the summer will be a 12-inch voice-chip-equipped figure of Stuntman Mike, Kurt Russell's character from "Death Proof," Tarantino's side of "Grindhouse." Additional figures will appear when the films arrive on DVD later in the year.
Not content to let other superheroes steal the thunder, DC Direct, the comic publisher's toy arm, unveiled a line of action figures tied to the upcoming direct-to-DVD movie "Superman: Doomsday." The film, which recaps the fabled death of Superman, will arrive in stores sometime this fall, with two additional video and toy releases planned behind it ("Justice League: The New Frontier" and "Teen Titans: The Judas Contract"). DC will also release a series of statues and busts related to the upcoming Neil Gaiman movie "Stardust."
At Mattel, the company was busy hyping products tied to the upcoming Pixar production "Ratatouille," which will see a line of figures, talking plush toys and various playsets. Also showcased were talking dolls and a sweat-inducing DVD trivia game for the Disney film "High School Musical" (see " 'High School Musical' Stars Have Sequel, Solo Projects In The Works").
Lastly, McFarlane Toys announced it has been granted the licenses for "Simpsons: The Movie" and "Beowolf," with details forthcoming.
Now if you'll excuse us, we have a "Spider-Man 3" robotic dog to play with.
http://www.vh1.com/movies/news/articles/15...212/story.jhtml

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest took six awards at the Visual Effects Society Awards on Feb. 11, including the two top awards, outstanding visual effects in a visual-effects-driven picture and single visual effect of the year, Variety reported.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest writer Terry Rossio told the Moviehole.net Web site that a fourth installment is contemplated and a script is planned, though it's too early to say whether the movie will get made.
http://www.moviehole.net/interviews/200702...terry_ross.html

Pirates 3 Trailer Debuts March 19
The trailer for Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, the third and final installment in the hit franchise, will debut during ABC's Dancing With the Stars premiere on March 19, Disney announced.
Fans of the Pirates movies, meanwhile, will have a chance to see the new trailer beforehand at a special nationwide Pirates Ultimate Fan Event on March 18. Fans can log on to Disney.com to enter. Winners will also be treated to a screening of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and get giveaways and prizes.
Following the broadcast debut of the trailer, it will premiere online on Yahoo!, on Disney.com and on other premium online destinations around the world at 10 p.m. PT on March 19. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End opens May 25.
http://home.disney.go.com/movies/pirates/fanevent/

Pirates 3 Trailer Debuts March 19
The trailer for Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, the third and final installment in the hit franchise, will debut during ABC's Dancing With the Stars premiere on March 19, Disney announced.
Fans of the Pirates movies, meanwhile, will have a chance to see the new trailer beforehand at a special nationwide Pirates Ultimate Fan Event on March 18. Fans can log on to Disney.com to enter. Winners will also be treated to a screening of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and get giveaways and prizes.
Following the broadcast debut of the trailer, it will premiere online on Yahoo!, on Disney.com and on other premium online destinations around the world at 10 p.m. PT on March 19. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End opens May 25.
http://home.disney.go.com/movies/pirates/fanevent/

Pirates 3 Games Due In May
Disney Interactive will release video games based on the upcoming sequel film Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End on May 22 for advanced gaming platforms.
Gamers will be able to play as any of several characters from the hit film franchise, including Captain Jack Sparrow, Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann.
Inspired by the events and locations of the upcoming film Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End and last year's blockbuster film Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, the video games will be available for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, PSP, PlayStation 2, Windows PC and Nintendo DS.
The movie At World's End opens May 25.

Disney has posted a new Web site for its upcoming sequel Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, which opens May 25.
http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/pirates/atworldsend/

The trailer for Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End has gone live and is posted through SCI FI Wire's Trailers page.
http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=8

USA Today published a sneak peek at the upcoming third and last Pirates of the Caribbean movie, At World's End, which opens May 25; the trailer debuts during ABC's Dancing With the Stars on March 19.
http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2...irst-look_N.htm

Harry, Spidey And Captain Jack: Summer-Blockbuster-Trailer Block Party
Plus early glimpses of 'Shrek,' 'Fantastic Four,' 'Bourne' sequels.
by Shawn Adler
In a world where summer-blockbuster trailers are bigger than ever, one site is grading them all. For a single, heart-stopping moment, an ordinary writer becomes a hero, with a list 65 million years in the making.
It's been called a "life-affirming tale of the can-do American spirit" (Larry Carroll, MTV News). If you read only one trailer-grading list this year, make it this one! Nothing could ever prepare you for what awaits.
"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix"
In a world where ... Lord Voldemort has returned to steal a prophecy about Harry Potter.
Hyperbolic billing: Oddly, none. But then again, about 18 billion copies of "Harry Potter" books have been sold. How much buildup do you need?
Geek-ism: The Ministry of Magic! Dumbledore's Army! Bellatrix Lestrange! It looks like Warner Bros. might continue to outdo itself translating the books with perfect casting and brilliant set design.
Best line: Trying to shut his mind to He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named, Harry screams, "I'm not weak," to which Professor Snape replies, "Then prove it!" Alan Rickman, you are delicious.
Surprise!: An extended flight through London has been added. (Too close to muggles to really happen, of course.)
Verdict: More a teaser than a proper trailer. All setup and no payoff.
Trailer grade: C
"Shrek the Third"
In a world where ... Prince Charming attempts a palace coup while Shrek searches for the true king.
Hyperbolic billing: "The wait is ogre" for a "whole new chapter of the greatest fairy tale never told."
Geek-ism: Talk about a Snow job. The princess formerly known as Miss White persuades a group of forest critters to take out a group of evil Ents by singing Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song."
Best line: Keep your Donkey and your Puss in Boots — we'll take Gingy every time. The Gingerbread Man says to Prince Charming: "The only thing you're ever going to be king of is King of the Stupids."
Surprise!: Fiona and Shrek are having a baby.
Verdict: If you liked "Shrek" and "Shrek 2" ...
Trailer grade: C+
"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"
In a world where ... pirate lords from all corners of the earth fight for ultimate control of the oceans.
Hyperbolic billing: "They know they face extinction. All that remains is where they make their final stand."
Geek-ism: "Captain Jack will get you high tonight!" As in, to the top of his ship's mast ... where he battles Davy Jones in a sword fight.
Best line: Jack Sparrow, after chaining himself to a firing canon and being called "mad": "If I wasn't, this'd probably never work."
Surprise!: The monkey is funnier than Jack in the trailer.
Verdict: After a minor letdown with "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" — which was a bridge between movies more than anything — some of the set pieces here look beyond fantastical.
Trailer grade: B
"Spider-Man 3"
In a world where ... Peter Parker must face three new villains (Venom, Sandman and the new Green Goblin) to save NYC.
Hyperbolic billing: "All that he loves will be threatened by what he will become."
Geek-ism: Hanging upside down from a building, Spidey's new black outfit is reflected in the window as his more familiar red-and-blue one.
Best line: Harry Osborn as the new Green Goblin after attacking Peter: "You knew this was coming, Pete."
Surprise!: Peter and Mary Jane are getting married.
Verdict: While not as good as the trailer for "Spiderman 2," the man they call "amazing" has more than a few awesome moves left, it seems. And the newly introduced characters Eddie Brock, Gwen Stacy and Venom look strong.
Trailer Grade: B+
"Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer"
In a world where ... all of Earth is threatened with the arrival of the Silver Surfer, herald of Galactus, devourer of planets.
Hyperbolic billing: What, "devourer of planets" isn't enough for you?
Geek-ism: The Silver Surfer. Period.
Best line: Johnny Storm at the Fantastic wedding, right before turning into the Human Torch: "I just bought this tux."
Surprise!: The Surfer kills Johnny?
Verdict: Count us among those who were underwhelmed by "Fantastic Four." The new trailer's innovative showcase of one lengthy scene (rather than a teasing synopsis), however, has us jazzed.
Trailer Grade: A+
"The Bourne Ultimatum"
In a world where ... super-spy Jason Bourne continues to search for clues to his past.
Hyperbolic billing: "His identity stolen. His loved ones murdered. His past destroyed ..."
Geek-ism: Chase sequences have always been a "Bourne" series high point. This time the action gets kicked up a notch with Bourne on a motorbike.
Best line: Pamela Landy: "Sit down, strap in and turn on all your data. This is Jason Bourne."
Surprise!: They somehow, once again, found a role for Julia Stiles.
Verdict: Way too much of the trailer is footage from the series' previous two flicks. The new footage is confusing and offers little insight into the new chapter's story line.
Trailer grade: D
"Evan Almighty"
In a world where ... everything we know and love will soon be underwater!
Hyperbolic billing: "Throughout history, the Almighty has appeared unto a very few — next summer, He will choose a new prophet."
Geek-ism: Steve Carell drinking coffee with two monkeys had us laughing for 40 days and 40 nights.
Best line: Evan screams loudly when God first appears in his car. God: "Let it out, son, it's the beginning of wisdom."
Surprise!: Carell's got a beard to rival Noah.
Verdict: Carell was the best part of "Bruce Almighty." It looks like he'll have ample opportunity to shine in this quasi-sequel.
Trailer grade: A
"Ratatouille"
In a world where ... a rat joins a nebbish sous-chef to become the greatest cook in Paris.
Hyperbolic billing: "From the studio that brought you [every great animated film of the last decade], prepare for an adventure that really cooks."
Geek-ism: The beauty is in the details. Check out the opening shot of the Parisian skyline, or the way Remy's chest beats frantically while he's in the jar.
Best line: "Stay away from the humans, it's dangerous. Now shut up and eat your garbage."
Surprise!: Not a single Frenchman surrenders in the entire trailer.
Verdict: Like a great French wine, Pixar seems to be getting better with age.
Trailer grade: A
http://www.vh1.com/movies/news/articles/15...403/story.jhtml

$1,500 Pirates 3 Tix Benefit Charity
Walt Disney Pictures will sell $1,500 tickets to its world premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End at Disneyland on May 19 to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Proceeds from the ticket sales will go directly to the foundation, for which Disney hopes to raise $3 million. The foundation grants wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy, Disney said.
http://home.disney.go.com/movies/pirates/premiere/