Way cool, huh? Definitely one of my favorite bits of swag to date!

Ghost Hunters returns with all new episodes on March 3 and they’ve got a live blow out planned for their 100th episode that you won’t want to miss.

Jason and Grant will team up with Barry and Dustin from Ghost Hunters International for their biggest hunt yet – a trip to Alcatraz. Forget the DVR. For this one, you have to tune in LIVE for this two-hour, interactive fan event on March 3.

Learn more when you visit Syfy.com/gh

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The big news in 2010, is the 30th anniversary of Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back and Hasbro is celebrating with a line of special packaging and promotions that will take you back to the day you first saw it in theaters. Here are a few of the new toys with photos and descriptions provided by our friends at LucasFilm.

BOBA FETT HELMET

Show off your bounty hunting skills like Boba Fett, the greatest bounty hunter in the galaxy, with the STAR WARS BOBA FETT HELMET. Impressively designed and styled, the STAR WARS BOBA FETT HELMET allows children to pretend to be their favorite bounty hunter. (Approximate Retail Price: $34.99; Ages: 4 & up; Available: August 1, 2010)

GENERAL GRIEVOUS LIGHTSABER

JEDI warriors have long recognized the prowess of GENERAL GRIEVOUS as a highly skilled, elusive and often multiple-LIGHTSABER-wielding adversary. Now, kids can engage in LIGHTSABER battles just like this powerful cyborg with the new STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS GENERAL GRIEVOUS LIGHTSABER. Battle with the power of GENERAL GRIEVOUS by spinning the two LIGHTSABERS simultaneously in one hand, take out the spinner and connect the two LIGHTSABERS for double-bladed LIGHTSABER action, or use the two separately to ward off an opponent. (Approximate Retail Price: $34.99; Ages: 6 & up; Available: August 1, 2010)

LEGO

The first licensed property for the LEGO Group in 1999, LEGO Star Wars continues to be one of the company’s best-selling lines, appealing to both children new to the story and to adult collectors who have followed Star Wars for years. January kicks off with a mix of modern classics and new Clone Wars sets. Included in the assortment are: Rebel Trooper and Snow Trooper Army Packs, Freeco Speeder™, Trifighter Droid™, Tie Defender™, and the ARC-170 Starfighter™. August proves to be even bigger with six new sets: Plo Koon’s Starfighter, Hoth Wampa Set (Pictured above), General Grievous Starfighter, Palpatine’s Shuttle, Slave I and Clone Turbo Tank .

The next chapter in the award-winning LEGO® Star Wars videogame franchise, LEGO® Star Wars III: The Clone Wars will combine the best elements of all previous LEGO® games while adding brand new gameplay to make it the most action-packed LEGO® videogame to date. The game will feature characters from both seasons of the hugely popular animated television series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, as well as some fan-favorite characters from the beloved theatrical Star Wars Saga. The game will ship on the Wii™, Nintendo DS™, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, and Xbox 360®videogame and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows in the Fall of 2010.

Personally, I want those Lego sets! What about you? Are you a Star Wars collector? If you’ve got photos of your toy collection, we’d love to see them.

Lucasfilm, Star Wars, Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: The Clone Wars and related character names, vehicle names and properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. TM & © Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners

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It’s an all new Torchwood comic and you can read it online right now at Watch! The comic is part of Alien Invasion Week on the UK network and that means good stuff for all (even us Yanks in the US.) My favorite goodie is a quick interview with John Barrowman where he giggles his way through an explanation of how Captain Jack became the Face of Boe.

If you’re in the UK, you’ll get to watch a great scifi lineup on Watch starting on February 13. It includes Doctor Who, Torchwood and Sci Fi movies like Starship Troopers and Terminator 3. The latest Torchwood series; Children of Earth will air every weeknight at 9pm and each segment will include a personal introduction by John Barrowman.

Not in the UK? You can still enjoy the new Torchwood comic from Titan and Watch.

Photo: Titan

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An interview with Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles

For nine months of the year, Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles are possessed by supernatural entities. It’s like demons – or angels – have taken over their bodies and they are powerless to do anything but watch their days unfold through someone else’s eyes while they speak someone else’s thoughts and live someone else’s lives. Of course, those entities are just the fictional characters they play for their TV show, but when they’re Sam and Dean Winchester for “sixteen hours a day, five days a week – it’s like being in a different world,” Padalecki related. “I’m Sam Winchester more often than I’m Jared Padalecki!”

When Jared and Jensen are working those kinds of hours in the mindset of brothers who are trying to stop the apocalypse while dealing with their dysfunctional relationship and coping with the fact that the blood of all humankind could be on their hands due to the roles they played in freeing Lucifer, the enormity of it all can be rather “exhausting,” Ackles confirmed. “It’s been an exhausting season so far.”

What’s surprisingly not difficult for Ackles is having to pretend like he wants to kick Padalecki’s Sam’s ass to Hell and back. “I love it when they fight each other!” he insisted with a laugh. “In the past, Dean could never stay mad at his little brother, but this time he could because he has all the reasons in the world to be mad: his little brother caused the Apocalypse! I mean, come on!”

Padalecki agrees. “I love the conflict. Before it was like, ‘Oh, you made a deal with a demon, didn’t you?’ ‘Yeah.’ ‘Uh, okay. So, how long?’ ‘A year.’ ‘You suck. I’ll find a way to get you out. Hug me.’ But then the situations obviously changed, so even though the brothers still cared about each other, what Sam and Dean went through changed them both and separated them more into individuals, so their relationship got much darker. I like the dynamic of brother versus brother when they both think they’re doing the right thing for the right reasons. And I would like to see how dark Sam could get.”

Both actors don’t actually expect that things will go darker; they expect that Sam and Dean will change the destinies laid out for them in The End. “They still have their own inner demons and skeletons and secrets and all that to deal with,” Padalecki pointed out, “but I’m sure they’ll get back together and join forces somehow.” Ackles agreed, adding, “Yeah, I kinda think they’ll spend most of the rest of the season trying to fix things up and forgiving their mistakes, especially Sam, because he’s feeling guilty for Lucifer’s rising on Earth. He’s admitting his faults and trying to find redemption.”

Read the full interview in issue 14 of The Official Supernatural Magazine on newsstands now.

To receive Supernatural Magazine exclusives, including sneak peeks,
interviews, promotional offers, and sweepstakes, visit: http://mailing.titanmagazines.com/mailing/

Supernatural Magazine launches Facebook page!

SUPERNATURAL MAGAZINE ISSUE 14 On-Sale NOW!

Photos courtesy of Supernatural Magazine

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“He’s captured the true sinister essence of the Darth Vader that Ralph McQuarrie envisioned in his original sketch,” said Bryan Ono, president of eFX.

The production run is limited to 250 units. eFX began taking orders this past Monday, Feb. 8 and will continue until sold out. The retail price for the helmet is $899, plus shipping and handling, and a non-refundable deposit of $250 will be required at the time of pre-order. The balance will be due when the Darth Vader Concept Helmet is ready to ship, which is estimated to be in late May.

For complete details of the Darth Vader Concept Helmet, the ordering process and additional information, visit the eFX Inc. website at www.efxcollectibles.com.

Photos: eFX

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Now, Jensen Ackles, the man behind Dean Winchester, is moving one step closer as he lends his voice to a new animated Batman DVD release.

According to the LA Times, Jensen will voice The Red Hood, an anti-hero, superhero in Batman: Under the Red Hood. Bruce Greenwood will voice Batman and even Neil Patrick Harris will be along for the ride.

No word on the release date yet, but a preview of the film will be included on the next Justice League DVD “Crisis on Two Earths.”

Photo: Jensen Ackles poses with his Ten Inch Hero castmates Danneel Harris and Elisabeth Harnois. Credit: Cynthia Boris

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The first season of the series aired on NBC in June of 2009 but low ratings bumped it from the air. The second season has never been aired here in the US but will be included in the run on Syfy.

BBC has commissioned a third season which will air in September 2010 in the UK.

If you missed it this past summer, you weren’t alone. Here’s the synopsis for the series:

An imaginative new twist on a timeless legend, Merlin is set in the mythical city of Camelot, before history began. It’s a fantastical realm of legendary beasts and mysterious peoples, and a dangerous world where magic has been banned by the ruthless tyrant, Uther Pendragon.

When Merlin, a young man gifted with extraordinary magical powers, arrives in the kingdom, he quickly makes enemies, including the heir to Uther’s crown, the headstrong Prince Arthur. But guided by Uther’s wise physician, Gaius, Merlin is soon using his talents not just to survive but also to unlock Camelot’s mystical secrets.

As he does, Merlin discovers that his destiny and that of the kingdom’s young leader in waiting, Arthur, are inextricably linked.

Merlin stars Colin Morgan as Merlin, Bradley James as Prince Arthur, Anthony Head as King Uther, Richard Wilson as Gaius, Katie McGrath as Morgana and Angel Coulby as Gwen.

Should be a great fit for Syfy.

Photo: NBC / Mike Hogan

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This set is made up of the last four Doctor Who specials, The Next Doctor, Planet of the Dead, The Waters of Mars and The End of Time, Parts One and Two.

Having those complete and at your fingertips for multiple watchings is good enough but they’ve also packed on some excellent special features. You get the full Doctor Who Confidential episodes, Doctor Who at the Proms, Deleted scenes with introduction from Russell T. Davies, Doctor Who BBC Christmas idents, Audio commentaries and my two favorite pieces David Tennant Video Diaries: The Final Days and Doctor Who at Comic-Con.

The Final Days video diary is a bit tricky to sit through – kind of like watching an old friend shove off, never to be seen again. This behind the scenes footage really shows you how much the cast and crew enjoys working on the series and how much they’ll miss David.

Doctor Who at Comic-Con is a fun featurette that gives you some idea of the madness that is that convention. All the excitement without the crowds, the long lines and the expensive hot dogs.

Doctor Who: The Complete Specials comes packaged in a spiffy fold-out with adventurous graphics and a small booklet with a forward by David Tennant. The audio and video quality is top notch.

Since Doctor Who only airs on BBC America out here, I have to believe there are a lot of people who haven’t had a chance to see this specials. If you’re one of them, I wouldn’t hesitate to buy this set even though the price is a little hefty. Alternately, BBC Video is also offering individual DVDs of Waters of Mars and The End of Time, but the combined price is nearly that of this four special set.

I say, go for gold, fellow Who fans, buy Doctor Who: The Complete Specials available today on Amazon or anywhere DVDs are sold.

Photo: Amazon

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Yep, Syfy is going down the wooded fairy tale path but you can bet these won’t be the kind of bedtime stories you’re used to hearing. Think Alice. Think Tin Man, and then forget it. We’re talking Syfy Saturday Original Movies – the modern version of the old B-flick and mock if you will, but these movies are fun.

The new genre launch begins with the premiere of Beauty and the Beast on Saturday, February 27, at 9PM (ET/PM).

In this gritty celebration of Valentine’s Day, a young Beauty (Estella Warren, Planet of the Apes) with a gift for healing helps a deformed Prince (Rhett Gilles, Wraiths of Roanoke) regain his throne and defeat the ruthless nobleman who wants to be king — and then together they try to destroy a power-hungry witch. Beauty and the Beast was directed by David Lister and written by Gavin Scott.

Said Thomas Vitale, Executive Vice President, Programming and Original Movies, Syfy:

“By turning familiar timeless stories inside out — like retelling Little Red Riding Hood as a werewolf tale or envisioning a dark version of Shrek — we’re creating an entertaining new genre for our popular Saturday night movie franchise, which has become the television destination for fans of action-packed independent sci-fi, horror and fantasy films.”

Here’s a look at some of the other films in development:

Red — A young woman who is a descendant of the real Little Red Riding Hood brings her fiancé home, where he meets the family and learns about their business – hunting werewolves. He’s skeptical until bitten by a werewolf. When her family insists he must be killed, Red tries saving him.

Hansel – Twenty years after his encounter with the witch, a grown-up Hansel returns to the haunted forest, seeking revenge. But there’s a surprise waiting – his sister Gretel (who he thought had been killed) is the witch’s protégée. (My favorite of the bunch.)
8TH Voyage of Sinbad — Sinbad searches for the golden head of the long lost Colossus of Rhodes and, instead, discovers an island where the mythical Minotaur still rules, protecting a vast treasure. Sinbad and his crew have to battle the creature and its minions to get the treasure and save their own lives.
Aladdin (working title) — After accidentally releasing an evil genie from an ancient lamp, Aladdin must find a way to imprison the genie again before it wreaks havoc on the world.

Black Forest – A group of naïve tourists take a sightseeing tour into a supposed enchanted forest, where they encounter evil creatures from the world of fantasy. Trapped in the Black Forest, their only hope of survival is fighting their way out.

There’s a reason these stories have stuck with us all these years and I think they make a great addition to the Syfy Original Movie roster.

What classic story would you like to see re-imagined as a dark and scary Syfy Original Movie?

Photo: Syfy

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“It is nearly impossible to think of certain films without remembering their music scores. Casablanca, Laura, An Affair to Remember, The Magnificent Seven – the list is endless,” said TCM host and film historian Robert Osborne. “Our list celebrates the most memorable and groundbreaking soundtracks, the ones which took the art of film music to new levels and made the most lasting impact on the world of movies.”

Chart-topping rock artist Rob Thomas said music contributes to film by developing a scene. “There is a certain beauty in laying a musical bed and how it builds itself into the scene, creating a lasting moment,” Thomas said. He also film music has had an influence on the concert hall. “Classical presentations that people listen to will always include Bach, Beethoven and Brahms. But as generations grow older, there will also be John Williams and Danny Elfman.”

In selecting the 15 Most Influential Film Soundtracks, several aspects were considered, including the impact they have had on how music is used onscreen to tell a story and on the methodology of song selection. Their influence is also defined by their impact on pop culture.

Here are the scifi films that made TCM’s list of 15 Most Influential Movie Soundtracks, listed in chronological order:

King Kong (1933) – Composer: Max Steiner

Historians disagree over who wrote the first fully symphonic film score, but most credit Max Steiner for either the 1932 Polynesian romance Bird of Paradise or the legendary King Kong. Certainly the latter film established Steiner as one of Hollywood’s top composers and demonstrated how much an original score could enhance a film’s emotional hold on its audience. When penny-pinching executives at RKO insisted Steiner score the film with stock music, the film’s co-director, Merian C. Cooper, reached into his own pocket to provide $50,000 for the score.

The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) – Composer: Bernard Herrmann

Eerie and haunting, the score Bernard Herrmann created for The Day the Earth Stood Still set the style for future science fiction films, from It Came From Outer Space (1953) to Blade Runner (1982). Although Miklos Rozsa in Spellbound (1945) introduced Hollywood to the electronic instrument known as the Theremin, Herrmann was the first to use it to create an all-electronic score. He did so by combining two Theremins with electronic organs, vibraphones and amplified strings, among other instruments. The jarring sounds perfectly captured the anxieties underlying this tale of a UFO landing in the middle of Washington, D.C. Herrmann also recorded on multiple tracks, long before stereophonic sound was widely used in Hollywood. He even played some cues backwards to create an unearthly masterpiece.

Psycho (1960) – Composer: Bernard Herrmann (not really scifi, but come on. . . )

It seems only natural that one of the most iconic sequences in film history – the shower scene from Psycho – should be accompanied by one of the screen’s most iconic musical cues. Bernard Herrmann’s screeching violins have taken on a life of their own in the years since they heralded Marion Crane’s death. Like John Williams’ Jaws theme, they have become an instant signifier of menace, quoted in everything from Psycho’s many imitations to episodes of The Simpsons. Originally, director Alfred Hitchcock wanted to use a jazz score and show the shower scene in silence. Herrmann showed him a better way to generate suspense, impressing the master so much that Hitchcock doubled the composer’s salary. Later, Hitchcock said, “Thirty-three percent of the effect of Psycho was due to the music.”

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) – Musical Consultant: Patrick Moore; Music Editor: Frank J. Urioste

Rockets revolve in space to the tune of Johann Strauss’ “The Blue Danube” waltz; light streams reflect on an astronaut’s helmet as he plummets through space to the otherworldly music of Gyorgy Ligeti; the sun, moon and Earth align perfectly to the thundering brass of Richard Strauss’ Also Sprach Zarathustra. These are some of the most famous weddings of visuals and music in film history, and they happened by accident. Stanley Kubrick had commissioned a score for his 2001: A Space Odyssey from Alex North, with whom he worked on 1960’s Spartacus. But during filming, the director used classical recordings to set the mood, then incorporated them for a scratch track when MGM’s executives requested a sample reel. The results were so spectacular that Kubrick decided to use a new type of film score composed entirely of commercial recordings of classical music. With 2001’s success, the classical score became a cinema staple, something Kubrick himself would return to for A Clockwork Orange (1971) and Barry Lyndon (1975).

Star Wars (1977) – Composer: John Williams

Before John Williams signed on for Star Wars, director George Lucas was planning to use classical music in the fashion of 2001: A Space Odyssey. But when Lucas’ friend Steven Spielberg convinced him to go with Williams, the composer gave him a rich blend of familiar musical styles, with a title theme inspired by Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s intro to King’s Row (1942) and leitmotifs inspired by Igor Stravinsky, Gustav Holst and even Benny Goodman (the model for the Cantina Band). The result went on to be voted the greatest score of all time by members of the American Film Institute. Thanks to Star Wars, movie-going was once again a feast for the ears, paving the way for more lush, romantic scores from the likes of James Horner (Titanic), Ennio Morricone (The Mission) and Williams himself (E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Schindler’s List).

Other film soundtracks on the list include Shaft, Saturday Night Fever, Goldfinger and The Graduate.

What’s your favorite movie soundtrack? We have quite a collection at our house but we’re always looking for new CDs to add to the rotation.

Photo: Amazon

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