The Chronicle of Anthony K. Valley

'Star Wars' Trailer to Premiere March 10

Coming soon to the O.C.

NEW YORK (AP) — Darth Vader is coming to “The O.C.” The trailer for “Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith” will premiere during the March 10 episode of the Fox show.

The final installment of the “Star Wars” saga will open in theaters on May 19. The new trailer will be released in movie theaters beginning March 11.

“Revenge of the Sith” is the third prequel to the original “Star Wars” trilogy. It continues the chronicle of young Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen), who eventually turns to the dark side and becomes Darth Vader.

[ Full Story @ Associated Press ]

Source: Associated Press © 2005 Associated Press

'Friends' Finale DVD to Be Released Right Away

Just in case you missed the “Friends” finale, just order the DVD.

LOS ANGELES — No need to tape that final episode of “Friends” for posterity — Warner Bros. plans to release a DVD of the finale just five days after its Thursday broadcast.

The series finale, which wraps up the NBC sitcom about six young adults living in Manhattan, is available by pre-order from the Warner Home Video Web site ($9.95).

The disc includes the original pilot episode that introduced the characters of Monica, Chandler, Joey, Ross, Rachel and Phoebe nearly 10 years ago, along with exclusive behind-the-scenes material.

The show’s hour-long conclusion airs Thursday on NBC at 9 p.m. EDT, preceded by an hour-long retrospective.

[ Full Story @ Fox News ]

Source: FoxNews © 2004 FoxNews

Ross Ends Up With Rachel on 'Friends' Finale

“Friends” finale not a shocker.

Television’s most popular comedy went for the crowd-pleasing finale on Thursday night, with Rachel getting off a plane to stay with Ross just as she was about to leave for a new job in Paris.

The hour-long episode marked the end of 10 years for the sitcom, which followed six New York coffee shop regulars as they moved from post-adolescence to something approaching adulthood. NBC privately predicted some 45 million viewers.

Monica and Chandler were surprised by twins and prepared for their move to the suburbs. Phoebe was already married, and Joey headed west to get serious about his acting career (and star in an NBC spinoff starting in the fall).

[ Full Story @ Fox News ]

Source: Fox News © 2004 Fox News

Star Wars Trilogy DVD Packaging

Star Wars: Episode IV | Star Wars Trilogy DVD Packaging

The Star Wars Trilogy on DVD is a four-disc set that contains A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi and a bonus disc of all new special features. Each of the four discs in the set will have its own dedicated packaging, designed to fit seamlessly on the shelf with the Star Wars DVDs already in your collection.

The Star Wars Trilogy on DVD debuts September 21, 2004. Keep checking starwars.com for more information about this momentous release.

George Michael 'retiring to internet'

Ananova.com reports George Michael ‘retiring to internet’

George Michael is retiring from the music business to become an Internet-only artist.

The singer said he will never make another album for sale in record shops - because he does not need the money and is sick of being famous.

Instead he intends to put all future songs on the Internet for free. Fans will be invited to make donations in exchange for downloading the tracks, which multi-millionaire Michael will give to charity. The 40-year-old star made the surprise announcement during an interview with Jo Whiley on Radio 1.

Lord of the Rings: Return of the King sweeps Oscars

No suprise, at all.

(CNN) — “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” set an Oscar record by sweeping all 11 awards for which it had been nominated, including best picture of the year.

The record for a film winning all its nominations was nine, set by “Gigi” (1958) and “The Last Emperor” (1988). “Rings” tied both “Ben-Hur” (1959) and “Titanic” (1997) with its 11 awards, the record for most Oscars in a single year. “Rings” is also the first fantasy film to win the top award.

Aside from best picture, the awards “Return of the King” won were: director (Peter Jackson), adapted screenplay (Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens), song (“Into the West”), score (Howard Shore), visual effects, art direction, costume design, makeup, sound mixing and film editing.

Jackson paid tribute to the government and people of his native New Zealand, a country that had been the subject of ribbing from host Billy Crystal as a “Rings” sweep became possible.

[ Full Story @ CNN ]

Source: CNN © 2004 Cable News Network

"The Passion of the Christ" Etiquette - Totem To Temple

Totem to Temple has crafted an excellent article that should be read by every church and every Christian planning to attend a showing of The Passion of the Christ.

To make the most of what has been touted as “perhaps the best outreach opportunity in 2000 years”, A Disturbing Trend I See About The Passion is a MUST read!

Netflix: the fly in the ointment of VoD

The Register in the UK has posted this article that specifically deals with the possibility of movies being legally delivered to homes via broadband internet connetions as an alternative to renting from the local video store. For contrast, Netflix’s business model is mentioned.

I informally consider myself as an evangelist for Netflix, a US based video-rental-by-mail company. It’s a wonderful service with rock solid execution.

The question that most people as it exactly how long does it take to receive the next DVD in queue? For me, since I am two mail days away from the Houston, TX distribution center, my complete DVD life cycle is six to seven days.

How so? If I mail a DVD on Monday, it arrives at the Distro on Wednesday and is processed as a return. A confirmation email is sent when Netflix receives the DVD in the the warehouse. Usually, the next DVD in queue is processed and mailed the same day, but the next day at the latest.
Let’s say that the DVD was shipped Thursday. It will then arrive in the mail on Saturday or Monday.

My family in the Dallas-Fort Worth area have a three to four day DVD cycle since they are closer to Houston.

Music Royalties Rise, Even as CD Sales Fall

From the New York Times article, “Music Royalties Rise, Even as CD Sales Fall”:

Despite the travails of the music industry, with CD sales still slumping and record executives still suing suspected Internet pirates, one part of the business is thriving. Royalties paid to songwriters and music publishers from radio and television broadcasts of their songs, and from live performances, are at record highs.

“When it comes to the downloading issue, which is killing record labels and music publishers, we’re only indirectly affected by it,” said Bill Velez, the head of Sesac, one of the leading performing rights organizations in the United States. “We’re able to weather economic storms better than other segments of the entertainment industry.”

In 2003, America’s three recognized performing rights organizations - Sesac, B.M.I. and Ascap - reported record revenues, which, in turn, have generated bigger royalties distributions to songwriters and music publishers.

[ Full Story @ New York Times ]

Source: The New York Times © 2004 New York Times

Passion Tickets not available yet at MovieTickets.com

The Passion of the Christ @ MovieTickets.com
Still waiting for tickets to come online…

Passion Tickets
Tickets for “The Passion of The Christ” at a premium cost of $9.50 per ticket plus a $1.50 for processing.

"The Matrix Revolutions" DVD Details

Revolution WILL be televised, well, sort of… You can have your own on April 6th, 2004.

Dark Horizons has all of the details on “The Matrix Revolutions”

The third and last Matrix film may not have had the warm reception that many were expecting, but it still earned a heap and is getting a pretty good DVD release. Despite the January talk last year, the two-disc set in both full and widescreen editions is now confirmed for an April 6th release. Below are the final specs and artwork for the release courtesy of DVD Answers:

- 2.40:1 Anamorphic Widescreen Presentation
- English Dolby Digital 5.1 Track
- English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Track
- French Dolby Digital 5.1 Track
- Matrix Recalibrated (Making Of) Documentary
* Neo Realism: The Evolution of Bullet Time
- CG Revolution (Effects) Documentary
* Super Big Mini-Models Segment
- Super Burly Brawl Featurette
* Double Agent Smith Segment
* Mind Over Matter: The Physicality of The Matrix
- Before the Revolution 3D Timeline
- Future Gamer: The Matrix Online (Game) Feature
- Multidimensional Stills Gallery
- Matrix Revolutions Theatrical Trailer
- DVD-ROM Features: Weblink & Matrix Test
- English, French, Spanish Subtitles

One of my favorite songs of ALL TIME

OH THE GLORY OF YOUR PRESENCE
Steve Fry @ 1983 Birdwing Music
(ADM. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) / BMG Songs, Inc./ ASCAP

Jesus all glorious
Create in us a temple
Called as living stones
Where you’re enthroned
As You rose from death in power
So rise within your temple
Rise upon our praise
And let the hand saw you raised
Clothe us in your glory
Draw us by your grace

Oh the glory of Your presence
We your temple
Give you reverence
Come and rise from Your rest
And be blessed by our praise
As we glory in Your embrace
As your presence now fills this place

Mel Gibson's 'The Passion of the Christ' Advance Tickets Available NOW!

Per per Yahoo, advance tickets for “The Passion of Christ” are available.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Jan. 8 /PRNewswire/ — Never before in motion picture history have tickets been offered this far in advance as they now are for Mel Gibson’s much anticipated film, “The Passion of the Christ.”

To view the Multimedia News Release, complete with video go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/thepassion/11685/

The film, which depicts the last 12 hours of Jesus Christ’s life on earth, is set to be released on Ash Wednesday, February 25, 2004.

The demand for tickets has been so great, hundreds of thousands of tickets have been secured already.

Individual and group orders are now available through Prelude Worldwide Ministries donation line by calling 1-800-235-1197 or on the Web at www.passiontickets.com

[ Full Story @ Yahoo!Financial ]

Source: Yahoo!Financial News © 2004 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.

Locating Stephen Christian's CD, "Call Me Christian"

Here are all of the places that I have found for “Call Me Christian” as recorded by Stephen Christian.

Onino
Amazon.com
Lightyear.com
CrossRhythms Direct
Artist Direct
Lifeway Christian Stores (Digital Download)
Best Buy
Circuit City
Wal Mart
Tower Records
CD Universe
Barnes and Noble
Books-a-Million

Matrix Revolutions DVD in May - from the Rumor Mill

As reports from the MatrixFans.net are streaming in, we might have the Revolution in May.

The Digital Bits’ Rumor Mill reports that we may see the Matrix Revolutions DVD in May. We’ll have confirmation of this after the press conference in a week or so, but until then, this is the first we’ve heard of a possible release date.

If it is in May, then we may be in for a great month of DVDs.

“We’ve heard from additional retail sources that New Line is telling them to expect the 2-disc The Return of the King theatrical version on DVD on May 25th, and the 4-disc extended version in the August-November timeframe. Of course, we’ll let you know when we have official confirmation.”

It’s an excellent time to be a movie fan.

DigitalBits : The Rumor Mill @ http://www.thedigitalbits.com/rumormill.html

Go to MFN forums for more information.

Pre-Order The Matrix Revolutions on DVD, Kinda...

I have noticed quite a bit of traffic coming from Google (and the like) with surfers looking for the Matrix Revolutions on DVD

Well, here’s the thing, it actually does not have a public release date, yet. But, Amazon will let you know as soon as it is available by using their nifty, E-mail me when available process.

And that’s the best that I can do…

The King Reigneth! LOTR-ROTK

Lord of the Rings : Return of the King is still reigning at the Box Office, per a recent article at Reuters.

Expect deja vu all over again at the box office this New Year’s weekend. No new wide releases are out to challenge the status quo, so New Line Cinema’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,” is fated to remain the most popular attraction.

Last weekend, the epic conclusion of the J.R.R. Tolkien fantasy trilogy suffered a drop of just 30% from its mammoth opening round. This time, “King” could fall 50% and still dominate the field with a $25 million tally.

The Peter Jackson-helmed “King” has generated more than $220 million at the domestic box office since its Dec. 17 bow. After becoming the second-fastest film to cross the $200 million mark — behind only “Spider-Man” — “King” could well exceed the $340 million racked up by its 2002 predecessor, “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.”

I know that I will loose some points with this next statement but, I have STILL not seen it yet. Going to the movies is rough with a new baby at home.