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Twilight tourist attractions lure fans to Oregon

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:03:00 +0000

Twilight hasn’t even been released yet (Friday in the USA and a month for us Brits) but already tourist attractions based on the Stephanie Meyer romance are setting up camp, anticipating huge business. Much of the love story between teenage girl Bella and vampire Edward was filmed in Oregon (standing in for Forks, Washington), with the cast and crew of the film settling there for 19 weeks during February 2007 and from January to April 2008 and this corner of America’s Pacific Northwest is planning a glut of fan-focused delights to cash in on the showbiz connection. So, if you happen to be in the area or will travel anywhere in the world to get your Twilight fix, read on for what tourist treats you can expect at the Beaver State (yes – that it is its name, we didn’t make it up!).

First up is a “Movie Sneak Preview Trip”, a walking tour that journeys to location spots such as the Columbia River Gorge and St Helens and includes an exclusive screening of the film, days prior to its general release. Organised by Fan Trips, a division of Colorado tourism company Beyond Boundaries, the tour started earlier in the week and continues until tomorrow. By Monday, 15 people had already signed up for this week’s jaunt and the tour might continue post the film’s release if business continues to boom (though it will be minus the cache of the pre-release film screening).

Other local attractions include the “Passion for Fashion and Prom” tour, which also organised by Fan Tours will run from 7th to 13th August 2009. This includes a prom at the View Point Inn in Corbett where Edward and Bella attend the movie’s prom night. The inn is also cooking up its own events with another prom planned, this time complete with sets and memorabilia from the film. For those with more sporty inclinations a “Vampire Baseball Adventure” is being lined up, consisting of “vampire baseball” (it IS Edwards’ favourite sport) at Portland’s PGE Park and other film location visits.

Oregon’s varied landscapes and enticing tax packages have snared a number of other recent Hollywood productions, such as Diane Lane thriller Untraceable and upcoming drama The Road starring Viggo Mortensen, yet it’s Twilight that the Governor’s Office of Film and Television hope will prove a long-term attraction. With the film rights to the other three books in the literary series having been signed up, Oregon is hoping that it will lure the producers of Twilight back to their neck of the woods. “Twilight is such a great film for Oregon,” says the office’s executive director Vince Porter. “It has such a huge fan base. Whenever a film like Twilight comes out, if it can have a lasting effect, it’s a good thing.”

Well, it certainly sounds like Oregon is THE place for Twilight fans to be, especially in the new year with the cool calendar of special events planned. How much is a plane ticket to Oregon again?

Check out our Twilight merchandise here.

[via Statesman Journal]

James Bond's Lotus Espirit to go under the hammer

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:07:00 +0000

Daniel Craig or Sean Connery? SPECTRE or QUANTUM? Pussy Galore or Vesper Lynd? Wherever you stand on the classic Bond versus modern Bond argument, the allure of Her Majesty’s top MI6 agent hasn’t diminished over the years. Far from it. With Quantum of Solace breaking box office records stateside, cinema’s longest-running film franchise shows no sign of slowing down, but for those new to the world of 007, who might only recognise him when played by Craig or his predecessor Pierce Brosnan, there’s much to recommend the earlier efforts of the 60s and 70s. And as if to prove it a much-loved relic from this era – the Lotus Esprit – is expected to fetch a pretty penny when it goes under the hammer at auction next month. Move aside Aston Martin DBS, the Lotus Espirit is Bond’s quirkiest car.

The white 1976 Lotus Espirit was driven by third Bond actor Roger Moore in 1977’s The Spy Who Loved Me and stunned fans with its amphibious abilities. Unable to escape Sardinia, Bond and his female accomplice Anya Asamova (Barbara Bach) drive the car into the sea, where it morphs into a submarine, complete with periscope, fins and propeller. Two were used during production of the movie and though they presented on-set difficulties, the scene established the Lotus Espirit as a serious rival to the Aston Martin in the hearts of Bond’s loyal army of auto lovers.

Now, collectors and car buffs with big pockets can bid to make their spy dreams come true as one of the cars goes up for auction at Bonhams’ annual motoring sale on 1st December. With a price tag between £100,000 and £120,000 the car doesn’t come cheap, but further Bond memorabilia is available, namely a registration plate from classic Bond flick, Goldfinger. The plate, which is expected to fetch over £80,000 was attached to the Rolls Royce Phantom III as used by Auric Goldfinger and as per the arch villain’s lust for all things gold it reads “AU1” – AU being the chemical symbol for gold. Clever, eh?

So if the credit crunch is something that’s happened to other people, head over to the Bonhams website for more information on how you can secure the Bond goodies. Or simply go for the pocket-sized option with the Lotus Esprit Underwater Toy Car & Goldfinger Rolls Royce & Odd Job Figure.

[via BBC News]

Fashion fix of the week: Brown leather croc bag

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:34:00 +0000

How many handbags do you own female Boxwishers? I’m guessing it’s more than you care to admit to (don’t worry – we’re not sending a covert team to break into your house to search for handbags) and that’s fine. Here at Boxwish, we’re of the opinion the more the merrier and appreciate that different bags have different functions. You have small glamorous ones for nights out, bigger weather-proof ones for shopping and work, not to mention that they have to match the outfit you’re wearing – the list goes on and on. However, we’ve spotted one we think ticks all number of boxes – it works well for any occasion, is both practical AND gorgeous and is sure to have bag lovers drooling with excitement. Without further ado – ladies we give you the brown leather croc bag.

The bag is seen on the arm of city gal Nancy in 2007’s Disney extravaganza, Enchanted. While Gisele (Amy Adams) being new to life in New York City after being booted out of her animated paradise makes do with clothes made from curtains, Nancy (Idina Menzel), her rival for the affections of divorce lawyer, Robert (Patrick Dempsey) flaunts some top designer clothes and on-trend fashions. Gisele does eventually win the heart of Robert, but we’re in camp Nancy with this lookalike of her fabulous handbag.

Our spot is made by top luxury label, Jane Shilton and is made from soft leather with croc finish. As well as looking the part, this bag is spacious and roomy allowing for all sorts of uses and has pockets, both exterior and interior for easy organisation. The main compartment has a zip-top to keep things safe and large dual carry handles for comfort. It’s elegant and chic without sacrificing practicality and is just the thing for running about town or heading to work. The handbag is available in brown, like Nancy’s or black.

Get the Brown Leather Croc Bag.

Merchandise swag: Yippee Ki Yay Action Day

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 11:52:00 +0000

Your mission, if you to choose to accept it, is to be John McClane. Yes, for one day you can forget your humdrum troubles and become the most rootin’-tootin’ of movie action heroes. The wise-cracking New York cop has been on-hand to save an LA skyscraper from terrorists, a plane from terrorists, New York from terrorists – oh, you get the picture. The guy’s pretty tough and he looks good in a vest – what’s not to love? And now to show your fan worship of McClane, you can spend a day as your idol courtesy of Red Letter Days and their “Yippee Ki Yay Action Day”.

The McClane extravaganza lasts three hours during which you will be trained in evasive driving (to avoid the terrorists), weapons training (to shoot the terrorists) and unarmed combat (to finish off the terrorists). This is then followed by tactics training (you wouldn’t want just mindless violence, now would you?) which sees you get to grips with cyber-terrorism code breaking, contact drills and more before showing off your newfound skills with a SWAT raid on a terrorist hide-out. But that’s not all – no sirree. Ramping up the excitement for the big show-stopping climax is a helicopter rescue mission. Wow, and indeed wow.

It’s action-packed with barely time to stop and grab your breathe, but all comes carefully packaged with health and safety training to ensure no-one gets carried away. Food and drink is provided and as it’s an all-weather experience be prepared to get properly wet and dirty in your hot pursuit of justice. So, grab your vest, practice your cheeky puns and you could live your very own action movie adventure. Yippee Ki Yay!

Get the Yippee Ki Yay Action Day.

Wales: THE new movie location hotspot

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 13:45:00 +0000

Great by name and according to location scouts, great by nature. Yes, Britain is swiftly becoming a top destination for movie productions. During the summer, we reported how the Loch Ness and its surrounding area are luring film crews north of the border with the likes of The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep enjoying some Scottish hospitality and now they’ve fallen under the spell of Wales with the amount of money spent on film and TV in the country having quadrupled over the past five years. Much of this economic boost to the area is due to top BBC shows Doctor Who and Torchwood, but there have been films such as this year’s The Edge of Love that have helped put Wales on the movie map.

So, why has Wales become such a hotspot? According to producer Sally Hibbin who recently worked on Robert Carlyle drama I Know You Know filmed in Bridgend and Cardiff, the appeal is due to local organisations. “I think the support for Welsh organisations like the Film Agency for Wales, the Wales Creative IP Fund and even councils was fabulous,” says the BAFTA-award winner. “It wasn’t just in terms of funding either. We had an organisation called CIRIC helping us from Swansea Metropolitan University who are funded by Objective One money and they were fantastic. Bridgend council was wonderful in their support. They gave is free access to council land and things like free parking. They were extremely hospitable. I found there was a lot of people in Wales helping make the film happen.”

This commitment to making Wales a hub of entertainment is echoed by Pauline Burt, chief executive at the Film Agency for Wales. “Our focus at the Film Agency for Wales is very much on developing the great film making talent that we are so fortunate to have here in Wales. We work hard to identify and nurture writers, directors and producers while offering tangible support to education and exhibition initiatives throughout the principality.”

“A great deal of our work is not reflected in statistics or financial totals, but rather in the additional value that we look to bring through our collaborative approach and our methods of working, whereby we aim to facilitate the work of others, bringing about introductions, offering advice and pro-actively supporting the progress of all projects that we are involved with. It is this focus that attracts both international attention and investment.”

Look out Scotland – Wales is where it’s at now.

[via Wales Online]

New book reveals top actors' movie inspirations

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 13:04:00 +0000

It’s not just everyday folks like you and I that are inspired by the movies as even the great and good turn to the big screen for a little guidance. How do we know this? Well, it’s not just our psychic powers (which are pretty impressive) that have lead us to this conclusion but a new book by Robert Hoffler, senior L. A. editor at trade bible Variety. Hoffler conducted a survey with many of Hollywood’s top names, asking them to name and explain their silver screen influences and has collected his findings into a new book, Variety’s the Movie That Changed My Life: 120 Notables Pick the Films That Made a Difference (for Better or for Worse). So, which star had their eyes opened by Pretty Woman? Click over to read more.

The book, due to be published in the UK next January reveals sexual awakenings. “It was the first naked woman’s breast I ever saw, and that completely changed my life,” admits Steve Carell on 70s drama Ryan’s Daughter, while for his Get Smart co-star Anne Hathaway Pretty Woman’s sexual story was shocking: “When I was 17 . . . I [realized], “Oh my God, she’s giving him a ======= in that scene.” For others, such as US comedian Bill Maher movies resonated for more traumatic reasons such as an unexpected death in coming-of-age saga Where The Boys Are.

The interviewed celebrities also attest to the productive powers of movies. Screen legend Jack Nicholson learned from watching On The Waterfront that his acting had to take a different direction to that of his idol, Marlon Brando otherwise he “wouldn’t get anywhere”. And current comedic hot property Seth Rogen felt in-tune with Clerks as “it was the first movie I saw where the characters were talking like me and my friends.”

To find out more about the inspirational force of yesterday’s films on today’s stars, pre-order your copy of Variety’s the Movie That Changed My Life: 120 Notables Pick the Films That Made a Difference (for Better or for Worse) here.

[via Thiandian]

DVD release inspirations including Prince Caspian

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 12:09:00 +0000

Monday again Boxwishers. I know, I know. You don’t have to say a word. Mondays are rubbish – FACT. That difficult haul from the warm comfort of your bed into the world of the living. We sympathise, honestly we do. And yet Mondays aren’t completely irredeemable as we’ve managed to find one little ray of sunshine – today’s new DVD releases. From high-kicking pandas to the world of Narnia we’ve got you covered with all you need to know about the family-friendly fare coming your way.

If you see… The Pevensie children return to Narnia where they join with Prince Caspian to fight for the freedom of their land in the fantasy adventure, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.

Why Not Return to the film’s source material, the second novel in the Narnia series by C. S. Lewis. Watch the movie’s predecessor which sees the Pevensies’ first trip beyond the wardrobe, 2005’s The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. Or swot up on the locations used in the movie to bring the fantastical kingdom of Narnia to life with our guide here.

If you see… Jack Black provide the voice for Po, a podgy panda with dreams of becoming a kung fu master in the animated comedy, Kung Fu Panda.

Why Not Learn the ancient art of kung fu with Wong Kiew Lit’s easy guide The Art of Shaolin Kung Fu: The Secrets of Kung Fu for Self-defence, Health and Enlightenment. Dress for the occasion with a black kung fu suit and matching slippers. Or whip up your own noodle soup.

If you see… Kung fu obsessed teenager Jason transported back to ancient China in the much-hyped onscreen pairing of Jackie Chan and Jet Li, action caper The Forbidden Kingdom.

Why Not Play at becoming a mandolin warrior with the Guitar Hero-esque game on the movie’s official site. Catch Monkey!, the iconic 70 series as watched by Jason. Or brush up on the legend behind the Monkey King.

Pick of 2008: The three best merchandise spots

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:12:00 +0000

With only a month and a half left of 2008, we at Boxwish are starting to get all nostalgic looking back over what has been a great year for films. In the action genre there was the return of old favourites Indiana Jones, James Bond and Batman with some exciting new kids on the block like Iron Man also making their mark. Boyish comedies consistently delivered laughs such as Tropic Thunder, Pineapple Express and Step Brothers, while ladies got a strong shout-out with the likes of Sex and the City and Mamma Mia! Adorable robot WALL•E stole hearts, musicals as diverse as High School Musical 3 and Sweeney Todd had us tapping our feet and directors such as Guy Ritchie (RocknRolla) and the Coen brothers (No Country for Old Men, Burn After Reading) made dramatic comebacks. And so as the year that was begins to wind up, we look back at some of our favourite spots from 2008’s movies kicking off with three of the best merchandise spots.

3. Iron Man mask and repulsor gauntlet

Tony Stark added his name to the list of awesome action heroes this summer and we’ve got just the thing for all aspiring morally-reawakened-industrialist-genius-playboy-billionaires (we reckon there’s a lot of you out there!) with this Iron Man mask and repulsor gauntlet. Don the mask and you look like the superhero, shoot repulsor ray discs and you act like him. It’s a fun bit of kit that is great for kids and adults alike and at only £17.99 makes a great stocking filler.

Get the Iron Man Mask and Repulsor Gauntlet.

2. Indiana Jones sound FX whip

Showing the young guns how it’s done was Indiana Jones who returned in the long-awaited fourth instalment of the adventure saga in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. As always, the intrepid explorer had his trusty whip and we’ve rustled up this fantastic toy of it which has all the fun of the screen version but none of that nasty danger. In contrast, this three-foot one by Hasbro is kitted out with special sound effects that recreate that whip sound and play the theme music! And all with a carry strap to take the weight off when you face baddies that need bringing in line.

Get the Indiana Jones Sound FX Whip.

1. Joker costume

Heath Ledger’s incredible performance as The Joker in The Dark Knight was THE stand-out of the year, creating a new villainous pin-up that had oodles of fans desperately trying to recreate his quirky look. Now, the search is over as we’ve spotted this officially licensed fancy dress costume that was a huge seller over Halloween. Consisting of the purple jacket, pinstripe purple trousers and top printed with the shirt, tie and vest the look is finished off by a mask meaning you don’t need to hit the green hair-dye to fulfil your Joker tribute – phew!

Get the Joker Fancy Dress Costume.

Win tickets to the UK premiere of Twilight

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:43:00 +0000

As Twilight fever continues to ramp up in the US of A where the Stephanie Meyer love story is released at cinemas next week, we Brits are starting to catch up. Undeterred by the month lag between American fans getting to see it and Twilight hitting these shores, we remain excited about the vampire romance and are furiously counting down the days until we can join in the fun. But here’s some happy news for British-based fans that simply can’t wait until 19th December to sink their teeth into some Twilight action as the UK premiere has not only been confirmed for London’s Leicester Square on 3rd December but those generous folk at MTV are offering one lucky person a pair of tickets to attend the event.

Attendance at the premiere will allow you to view the film over a fortnight ahead of its general release and get to rub shoulders with the movie’s stars such as Kristen Stewart and homegrown heart-throb Robert Pattinson. To be in win a chance of winning, simply answer one easy-peasy question and submit your details to MTV. The competition closes on 15th November so you’ve got until the clock strikes midnight tomorrow to throw your name into the hat. Enter the competition here. Good luck Boxwishers!

Get Twilight goodies here.

Cinema release inspirations including Zack and Miri

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:42:00 +0000

Hello Boxwishers and welcome to your end-of-the-week dose of blogging goodness. As always, we’re here to let you know what cinematic treats are on general release from today and it’s a ripe ol’ bunch. There’s naughty comedy hijinks in Kevin Smith’s latest, Zack and Miri Make a Porno (I wonder what that’s all about), kick-ass action in Max Payne and horror scares in Quarantine. Any of this tickling your fancy? If so, read on to find out more about the films and our suggestions on how to bring them to life.

If you see… Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks star as two cash-strapped housemates that resort to blue movies in the saucy romantic comedy, Zack and Miri Make a Porno.

Why Not Nab a video camera and have fun with it (we’re not making any smutty suggestions – just encouraging your creative juices to flow). Dress up like Zack and Miri, whether in their cosy winter fashions or as Han Solo and Princess Leia in their “spoof” of Star Wars. Or get your own x-rated ID at the movie’s official website here.

If you see… Mark Wahlberg star as Max Payne, an NYPD detective out for revenge against those that murdered his family in the dark and brutal action thriller, Max Payne.

Why Not Revisit the film’s gaming roots by playing either the classic first game or its similarly brilliant follow-up Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne. Journey into the musical careers of some of the movie’s stars such as Nelly Furtado in her big screen debut, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges and even wee Mark Wahlberg back in the 90s when he was better known as Marky Mark. Or get the look of Max and his sidekick Mona Sax (Mila Kunis) with our guide to their fashions.

If you see… The shaky handheld camera scariness of horror Quarantine starring Jennifer Carpenter from TV’s Dexter.

Why Not Watch the 2007 Spanish flick [REC] that Quarantine is a remake of. Catch Jennifer as Miami cop Debra Morgan in the hit US show Dexter or watch the E! Channel’s spoof of the movie below.