It’s been ten years since the epic Lord of the Rings trilogy arrived in cinemas… well, the first part, anyway, and if you’ve been hankering after another fix you’re in luck. The trailer for the prequel, The Hobbit, has been released and is now available on YouTube. Have a look at the embedded video below.

What do you think? It’s been a long, long time since I read The Hobbit as a child, but I’m incredibly excited about this movie. How about you?

Warning: This review contains some spoilers. If you plan to go to see Batman Live and do not want to learn anything about the story, read no further!

If you’ve been keeping up with recent posts at Geek-Speak you’ll know we ran a competition for one lucky person to win tickets to Batman Live, the new live stage show that’s currently touring the UK. As well as the winner receiving tickets, I was fortunate to be offered tickets myself. So, last week, a friend and I headed to Glasgow for the opening night at the SECC.

We were greeted with a large crowd of people, including plenty of children, and with a fair smattering of people dressed up as their favourite Batman characters. Fortunately, the majority of people were dressed in “normal” clothes, so we didn’t feel out of place at all.

The arena itself was set up in a horseshoe shape around a long stage. We had initially thought we were going to be sat right at the back and unable to see anything, but the setup meant most, if not all, of the audience got a good view of what was happening. I would venture to say I don’t think there would have been a bad seat in the house.

What immediately struck us was the quality of the scenery. I know that sounds like an odd thing to say, but it really did make us go “Wow!”. The stage was interspersed with model buildings, but the backdrop was a massive screen on which was an image of Gotham City. Blimps circled over the cityscape, lights came on and off, and a little railway wound its way across the scene (which my friend had to point out to me three times before I finally saw it).

Batman Live tells the story of how Dick Grayson becomes Robin, and pays great tribute to its comic book roots. Scene changes are done by having the background shrink into a comic book cell, the pages are flicked, and a new cell (scene) zoomed into. Fight scenes are accompanied by comic book inspired images, and the whole thing feels like a high quality graphic novel. This is, of course, just a backdrop to the live action itself which, given Dick Grayson’s genesis as a circus performer, appropriately makes use of acrobatics and circus skills.

The lineup of villains is as important as the hero, I think, and we get appearances by Two Face, The Riddler, Catwoman and The Penguin. We do also get to see Poison Ivy and Scarecrow, although they are so brief as to make me think they were just included to make sure there were as many people’s favourites in the show as possible. The major “baddies”, though, are Harley Quinn and her psychotic crush Joker. Joker’s first appearance is just brilliant, bursting from a jack-in-the-box, and fits his playful yet crazy character down to a tee.

The story was a little slow to get going at first, although it did make sense to show both how Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson lost their parents. Once we get into the action, though, the story really takes off – fights, the Batmobile whizzing through the streets, important revelations about the identity of Batman, and so on. It’s true that time flies when you’re having fun, and the show certainly didn’t feel like it lasted the two hours we were in there.

Let me just give you a couple of real highlights before we round off:

1. Batman facing Joker’s goons in the circus. A huge Joker face emerges from behind the screen, and you suddenly realise that the hair, eyes, and teeth are people. These people stream from the face’s mouth to attack Batman. That face was pretty creepy, but very, very clever.
2. Showing Dick the new Batmobile, designed by Gordon Murray (who also designed the McLaren F1). The Batmobile looks a little fragile but very futuristic and when Batman demonstrates the rocket launchers… well… just duck.
3. Scarecrow’s attack on Batman. I do think more could have been made of Scarecrow and his psychotropic gas, but just watching the actor move was something to behold. He must have been on stilts, but seemed to move in such a strange, lurching way that I have no idea how he didn’t fall over.
4. The grand finale – which involves a bazooka and some quite spectacular effects I didn’t realise were even possible on stage. I won’t go into more detail in case you plan to go and see the show yourself, but it was spectacular in the true sense of the word.

All in all, Batman Live was an amazing show. The mix of comic book style, amazing effects in the live action, and a good story made for a fantastic evening. The audience, children and (some slightly inebriated) adults included, all seemed to enjoy themselves and there was a great atmosphere afterwards. The show is well worth a look if you can get tickets. As my friend remarked to me as we left the arena once the show was over: “I think I might just have become a batman fan.”

Visit www.batmanlive.com for more info.

Good morning all, I hope you have a great day today. Last week we asked you to tell us who played Wesley Crusher in Star Trek: The Next Generation, for the chance to win a bundle of Star Trek goodies consisting of a USS Enterprise pizza cutter, keychain, and a Klingon corkscrew. Wesley Crusher was played by Wil Wheaton, and well over five hundred of you got the answer correct.

The winning entry, selected at random by using random.org‘s very geeky air-pressure seeded random number generator, is…

(drumroll)

T Ryder!

Well done, T. I will be in touch with you shortly to arrange delivery of your prize.

But well done to so many people for getting the answer correct. Thanks for entering, and don’t forget to enter any future competitions – it could be you next time.

Copyright law is an odd thing, and it seems it just got a bit more odd here in the UK. Take the iconic Star Wars films, for instance. These are protected under copyright until “70 years from the end of the calendar year in which the last principal director, author or composer dies” (reference). George Lucas is still very much with us, so it’s going to be quite some time before they enter the public domain.

But what about the costumes worn by the Stormtroopers in the same films? You would think they are protected to the same degree, but a recent ruling by the UK’s Supreme Court cast a different light on this: Stormtrooper costumes are industrial objects, not works of art, and therefore only subject to a period of fifteen years’ copyright protection. I think the decision stems from the fact that the costumes allow work to be done… admittedly it’s the work of creating a movie, but they’re still just tools of a particular industry.

The reason all this came about is that the prop designer who made the original Stormtrooper armour has been selling replicas cast from the original moulds. Lucasfilm, understandably, saw this as a violation of copyright and began legal proceedings. As copyright law is different in the US, the Supreme Court did rule that Lucasfilm’s copyright has been violated there, but not according the UK law. So, in the UK at least, Stormtrooper costumes are out of copyright and the replicas can legally be sold without Lucasfilm’s permission.

While that will most likely represent a significant loss of income for Lucasfilm, I think it brings benefits to the general consumer… you and I. Once you enter the open market, innovation and price drops soon follow. I’m not quite sure how the Stormtrooper costume can be innovated upon, but you never know.

There’s more

Some cases in point would be Frank L Baum’s The Wizard of Oz, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories or Lewis Carroll’s The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland. All of these have entered the public domain after the requisite wait following the death of their authors, and there have been great new works based on all three stories. Tin Man reimagined what the story of Oz was all about, Sherlock on the BBC casts a modern light on the classic Holmes universe, and the there have been recent movie and television re-imaginings of Alice in Wonderland. These all add to the tapestry of material surrounding these stories.

But Stormtroopers?

OK, I’m still not sure how that will apply to Stormtrooper costumes as I’m sure the concept of the Stormtroopers will still be owned by Lucasfilm. But the point I”m trying to make is that when something passes out of copyright protection, it opens the way for people to build upon it and have fun with it. Sure, copyright is still important as it protects people’s rights to work they have carried out and the associated income, but eventually these things pass.

What do you think about this issue? Is it a good thing that the (UK) copyright has expired on Stormtrooper costumes? Will it open the floodgates for unlicensed replica props from other movies or TV shows? Should the Supreme Court have ruled that the costumes are “sculptures” and therefore still under copyright? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Post image used under creative commons. Originally by Andres Rueda.

Phew – this is getting to be a habit. We have another competition for you. This time, to celebrate Star Trek: The Next Generation’s return to UK television (8pm weeknights on CBS Action) we are offering you the chance to win a prize package consisting of a classic USS Enterprise pizza cutter, Enterprise keychain, and a Klingon Bird of Prey corkscrew.

All you need to do to be in with a chance of winning the prizes is answer the following question:

This competition is now closed. Please keep an eye on the home page to find out who has won.

Answers must be received by 00:01 on Thursday 4th August. The winner will be announced the same day and will be selected at random from all correct entries. In order to arrange delivery of your prize, the winner’s details will be passed on to Holler PR – the agency providing the prize package. All non-winning entries will be destroyed and not passed on to any other parties.

Get your answer in, and good luck!

Star Trek: The Next Generation is now showing at 8pm weeknights on CBS Action [UK]. Check out the retro 1987 trailer below.

Thanks to everyone who entered to win a pair of free tickets to Batman Live. The person who designed the Batmobile for the show was Gordon Murray, legendary sportscar designer who also has the iconic McLaren F1 road car under his belt.

The winning entry, selected at random (using random.org) was from Kylee Bell.

Congratulations Kylee, I hope you enjoy the show. Commiserations to everyone else – but keep an eye out for any future competitions on the site.

This competition is now closed.

Last week we told you about the upcoming UK tour of Batman Live, the live action stage show starring the caped crusader. Now we’re giving you the chance to go along…

See Batman the world’s most popular DC Super Hero as you’ve never seen him before, in an all-new, live-action arena adventure, set to take the world by storm. Join Batman and Robin as they battle their nemesis The Joker and other super-villains such as The Riddler, Catwoman, The Penguin, Two-Face and Harley Quinn, set on destroying Gotham City. Totally authentic, bold and awe-inspiring, BATMAN LIVE will be a completely new way to experience the world of Batman. This is one adventure you do not want to miss!

We are offering you the opportunity to win a pair of tickets to the opening night of Batman Live at the venue of your choice (past venues excluded, obviously).

To be in with the chance of winning this fantastic prize, simply answer the following question:
Who designed the Batmobile for the Batman Live show?

Sorry, this competition is now closed.

Entries must be received by 23:59 on Sunday 24th July. The winner will be announced on Monday 25th of July. The winner’s details will then be passed on to AKA, the promoters of Batman Live, for the purposes of the winner and AKA booking tickets at the venue of the winner’s choice. Non-winners’ details will be destroyed, and not passed on to any third parties.

AKA’s Terms and Conditions: Tickets valid for the first night in your chosen city. No alternative date. Transportation to and from the venue is not included in the prize. Tickets subject to availability. Winning tickets will be reserved at the Box Office for collection on the day of performance. No cash alternative, prize is non-transferable. Entries are limited. The prize is as stated and is non-transferable. All entries must be received by 23:59 on Sunday 24th July. Each correct entry received will be entered into the draw. Regretfully in the event that the event/concert is cancelled by the artist/promoter, tickets for alternative event/concerts will not be provided to winners. The Producers of Batman Live have the right to cancel this promotion at any time.

Have fun, and good luck!

Improbable villains, shark-repellant spray, lycra hero suits, a plethora of gadgets, and words like “Ker-thwack” appearing on screen whenever the hero punches someone. What are we talking about? Batman, of course!

Things have moved on a little since the Adam West and Burt Ward days, with later Batman offerings taking on a much darker hue, but the Caped Crusader is sill a popular staple of super-hero lore. And now there is a live show coming to the UK!

The show promises to introduce us to The Riddler, Joker, Penguin, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy and Catwoman as we follow the story of Dick Grayson (Robin) and his quest for justice for the death of his parents. Faithfully adapted from the DC comics, stories and characters, this looks like a fantastic show.

One thing I’m particularly excited about is the new Batmobile – designed specially for the show by legendary racing car designer Gordon Murray. Haven’t heard of him? He designed the McLaren F1… at one time the fastest road car in the world and still good enough to give a Bugatti Veyron a fright at the traffic lights.

Batman Live opens in Manchester on the 19th of July, and will be touring the UK. Join us on Monday when we will be launching a competition to win tickets to the Glasgow venue on the 3rd of August.

Check out the Batman Live website for more information.

This is a guest post by Lee Pickering on behalf of Netcars – the online motoring search engine for popular brands, such as used Mini, Ford, Renault, BMW and Hyundai.

Once you leave the theatre after a movie, you think that everything just goes back to normal, don’t you? Well, for certain aspects of the film you’ve just watched, it does; the actors receive a big cheque, the film sells millions of tickets and you are relieved of £8.00. But what happens to the iconic cars after production? Where do they go? What do they do? Here’s a look at the fates that beheld the most memorable.

Back to the Future: DeLorean DMC-12

When Marty McFly first saw the DeLorean DMC-12 in the 1985 film, Back to the Future, it paved the way for a DeLorean takeover. Everyone who watched the film instantly fell in love with the iconic gull-winged sports car from Ireland, but rather unfortunately, in reality, the DeLorean was one of the biggest flops in the motoring industry.

Produced for just two years between 1981 and 1982, the 2 door sports car looked great but performed about as well as an English athlete in the Winter Olympics. Couple that with the company’s CEO being involved in some cocaine legality problems, it meant the DeLorean, as brand, was destroyed forever. Thankfully, the DMC-12, the company’s only export, is only remembered for its starring role in Back to the Future – which is probably a bit of a relief for the Irish motor industry.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Photo Credit: Daves Portfolio

One of the worst names in motoring history, over 40-years old and about as modern as a Van Gough painting, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang isn’t exactly the most modern or attractive of cars ever seen in cinema. But what it lacked in visual looks, it more than made up for in charisma, and that’s exactly what made the film goers of 1968 fall in love with it.

After the musical film finished, however, Chitty spent a life travelling from motor show to auto show, from owner to owner, until it finally sold last month for a mind boggling £500,000. The value, despite being as ridiculous as Chitty itself, was far lower than the original $1m expected from the sale. Chitty was designed by Ford’s racing team in 1969 and featured a 3.0-litre V6 engine which is, presumably, by now about as powerful as two harnessed sloths.

The Pussy Wagon from Kill Bill

Photo Credit: OpenKiko

With a name as descriptive as the Pussy Wagon, you’d imagine the driver would have to be quite egotistical and cocksure, but when Uma Thurman drove it in Kill Bill Vol 1 it showed that women who kick ass can be just as arrogant and confident as any male killer. After fans fell in love with Quentin Tarantino’s iconic film, the Pussy Wagon managed to continue its career in Lady Gaga’s hugely successful mini-film and music video, Telephone. According to reports, the Chevrolet Silverado SS is now owned by Mr. Tarantino himself. Perhaps he sees himself as a bit of a, ahem, magnet.

The General Lee from The Dukes of Hazzard

A modified Dodge Charger; a crazy and vibrant paint job, a confederate flag on the roof and what do you get? One of the most iconic cars from any motoring based film. The General Lee gained cult status thanks to it being involved in hundreds of chases and stunts involving those hillbilly kids. The Lee managed to stay relatively famous after the film ended thanks to a starring role in Jessica Simpson’s very seductive music video; These Boots are made for Walkin’. Simpson was also involved in the film for the modern re-make of The Dukes of Hazzard which managed to help boost the General Lee’s profile to a younger audience.

Mini Cooper S from The Italian Job

Photo Credit: Shaun Tarlton

With the voice of Michael Caine, you could sell pretty much any film, but when you’ve got Caine’s voice and one of the most iconic British cars ever made in the Mini Cooper S, it’s pretty much a recipe for success. Without the Italian Job, it’s debatable whether the Mini would have sold like it did; sure, it was a great car but having worldwide coverage in such a popular film meant everyone wanted a piece of the Italian Job lifestyle.

After the film, though, the Cooper S struggled. Sure, sales were great, but when it was time to make a 21st century version of the Italian Job, the director decided to use BMW’s brand new MINI – which was about as MINI as the Big Show from WWE. So, the original was snubbed, but in a way, we don’t mind, because it meant the original kept its ‘60’s appeal and iconic status.

See, it’s not just actors that move on in their careers after the filming finishes. Do you know of any other iconic motors that went on to pastures new once their film role was over? Or do you want to comment on any of the examples I’ve given here? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.

We’re currently halfway through a series of Doctor Who, and on a summer break after finally learning who River Song is. The remainder of the series will return in the autumn, apparently with an episode called, “Let’s kill Hitler”. But what about when the series has ended? Is there another in the pipeline? Yes, the BBC has announced the commissioning of another fourteen episodes of Doctor Who, with Matt Smith returning as The Doctor. Sam Hodges, head of communications for BBC One, fiction and daytime, tweeted the below:

Followed by the current series’ head writer Steven Moffat:

Now, if I’m honest, this wasn’t much of a news flash as Doctor Who is one of the BBC’s big success stories. Barring some strange goings on within the Beeb it was pretty much a given that there would be a new series… perhaps a small chance that there might be a new Doctor. However, Private Eye has been reporting that there have been major ructions within BBC Wales, with the main cast members looking for alternative roles, and that there would only be four specials next year instead of the usual series.

Well, it no longer looks that way with these two tweets being taken as the official nod from the BBC and writer.

I am, of course, happy that there will be more Who next year, but on reflection I think the most interesting aspect of this story is how Twitter is being used to get news out quickly. OK, that’s nothing new, but it’s not that long ago you would have expected a full press release. Perhaps even a reference to the press release in the Tweets, if you wanted to combine the two. But no, we now have comments from two people, clearly in the know, just sort of throwing the information out there.

That’s great! We get to know what’s happening much sooner than if someone had to craft a finely honed article, and there’s even the opportunity to respond to the tweets and ask questions, make suggestions, or whatever else you want to say.

And there’s more Doctor Who on the way.