Movies

DNA decay rate makes 'Jurassic Park' impossible

Countless childhood dreams dissolved today upon the news that the calculated half-life of DNA figures out to around 521 years, all but invalidating the chances of a real-life "Jurassic Park."

The DNA fact-finding project involved a team of palaeogeneticists testing 158 leg bones belonging to three species of extinct giant moa birds ranging from 600 to 8,000 years old.

After running a series of comparisons between the age of the various bones and DNA degradation within each specimen, the researchers estimated that DNA's half-life works out to about 521 years after being kept in a swamp with an average temperature of 13.1 Celsius (55 Fahrenheit). Even a more ideal preservation temperature of minus 5 Celsius (23 Fahrenheit) would only result in readable DNA from specimens up to 1.5 million years old, meaning there is no possible way we can see a 65-million-year-old T-Rex waving its tiny arms about in this time frame. … Read more

Watching 'Looper' in a theater? Bring headphones

You know how most Blu-ray discs and DVDs come with audio commentaries as a bonus feature to play along with the movie? Well, to encourage repeat viewings in cinemas, the director of sci-fi action movie "Looper" wants you to bring an iPod into the theater to listen to details of how each scene was filmed. However, he reminds audiences not to listen to the commentary on the first viewing or before seeing the movie.

In a Tumblr post on October 5, Johnson, who also directed the AMC TV show "Breaking Bad," provides a downloadable MP3 file … Read more

'Star Wars' coins let you pay in Yodas

Following up on last year's popular launch of official "Star Wars" currency, the New Zealand Mint revealed a new set of coins featuring Queen Amidala, Yoda, Darth Maul, and Anakin from the epic sci-fi prequel trilogy.

The colorful 1.6-inch diameter coins work as $2 legal tender on the tiny South Pacific island country of Niue and individually contain one ounce of .999 silver. A ripple in the Force indicates that few people would probably actually spend these collectors' items, and if they do, they may get clubbed over the head by Yoda's cane. … Read more

Fox launches Digital HD for early access to latest releases

Twentieth Century Fox has announced a new way for customers to get their hands on its latest films.

Dubbed Digital HD, the new initiative is designed to allow consumers to stream or download the company's films from a host of services before they come out on Blu-ray or DVD. To make good on that promise, Fox announced today that the sci-fi film "Prometheus" is now available for download. The film will come to Blu-ray, DVD, and video-on-demand three weeks from now.

According to Fox, it'll continue to offer its latest releases digitally weeks before they're … Read more

Grand Theft Auto goes 'Back to the Future' with DeLorean mod

A fan had a dream. He dreamed he would some day roll around Vice City in a souped-up DeLorean, dressed as Marty Mcfly, packing heat, and terrorizing the town. Then he made it happen.

The creator of the Back to the Future Grand Theft Auto mod (SeedyROM34 on YouTube), spent months working on the elaborate creation with many hours of file editing thrown into the bargain. This is quite a bit more than just a skin. There's time travel, an excellent-looking Marty McFly character, and a detailed DeLorean complete with flux capacitor.… Read more

Expect double the 'Star Wars' 3D in late 2013

Lucasfilm and Twentieth Century Fox announced today an epic sci-fi 3D doubleheader for fall 2013: "Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones" and "Episode III Revenge of the Sith" arrive in theaters during consecutive months next year.

Officially, the 3D version of "Episode II" hits the big screen on September 20, 2013, while the 3D "Episode III" debuts on October 11, 2013. … Read more

Avatar on Blu-ray 3D available to all October 16

It took nearly two years, but "Avatar" on Blu-ray 3D is finally being offered in-store to anyone who wants to purchase it.

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment today announced that the film version will be available globally starting October 15. The company will launch the movie in North America on October 16.

"Avatar" has been available on Blu-ray 3D since 2010. However, the film was offered exclusively to Panasonic customers who purchased one of the company's HDTVs or other devices. All others were forced to stick with the Blu-ray version.

Why it took so long … Read more

Giant Rancor ready to bite Star Wars Celebration VI

The sci-fi epic "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi" featured a truly terrifying monster known as Rancor. For those unfamiliar with the reference, Luke Skywalker heroically fought the beast with merely a bone in a cave during the Jabba's Palace sequences.

A "life-size" Rancor makes a big debut later this month during Star Wars Celebration VI in Orlando, Fla., a massive fan gathering for devotees of the sci-fi saga held every few years. During the convention, saber swingers can interact with many exhibits, stars, artists, and other activities associated with the movies. … Read more

U.K. gets its own 24-hour James Bond TV channel

Fresh from his starring role in the London 2012 Olympic opening ceremony, secret agent James Bond is getting his own TV channel. The latest espionage thriller, "Skyfall," is heralded by every Bond film being screened on new channel Sky Movies 007 in October. "Live and Let Sky"!

Or should that be "The Sky Who Loved Me"? Or maybe "For Your Sky Only"... Anyway, it's the 50th anniversary of the release of first Bond film "Dr No" on October 6, so the new 007 channel will show the films of … Read more

Google crashers: Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn to play interns

If you were to cast actors to play Google interns, your soul might lead you to Ellen Page or Andrew Garfield -- people who can muster idealism tinged with taking themselves very seriously.

Your heart might lead you to Taylor Momsen, Tyler Lautner, or Miley Cyrus, people who would pretend with beauty.

But surely only a troubled bunion would lead you to Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn.

And yet it seems that these two wedding-crashing, drunken louts will be playing Google interns in a new movie called "The Internship."… Read more