Thor movie update: Natalie Portman cast as leading lady Jane Foster

Jul 15 2009 Published by Joey Alarilla under Pop Culture

Sure, as Princess Amidala, Natalie Portman became the love interest of the man who would become one of the most bad-ass villains of all time, Darth Vader (just delete from memory how emo the young Anakin Skywalker a.k.a. Boy Band Vader was). Still, that’s probably nothing compared to being the first love of a bona fide God of Thunder.

Marvel Studios has announced that Portman will play nurse Jane Foster in the movie “Thor,” which is slated for release in May 2011. Foster was Thor’s first love in the early issues of the latest Marvel comic to be adapted for the big screen.

Here’s an excerpt from the article on Marvel.com News.

Portman will star opposite Chris Hemsworth who will play Thor and Tom Hiddleston who will play the villain Loki. Kenneth Branagh will direct the film.

Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige will produce “Thor.” Principal photography for the film is set for early 2010. The film will be released in the US on May 20, 2011 and distributed by Paramount Pictures.

By the way, I’m not sure how true those persistent rumors were for the past few years that World Wrestling Entertainment pro wrestler Triple H was in the running for the role of Thor in the new movie, but obviously he won’t be playing the God of Thunder.

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WWE SmackDown/ECW Live in Manila videos: House show at Araneta Coliseum, Philippines

Jul 13 2009 Published by Joey Alarilla under Uncategorized

Here are some video clips on YouTube from the July 10 World Wrestling Entertainment SmackDown/ECW Live in Manila house show at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, the Philippines.

Awesome ringside view — thanks to the fan who shared this on YouTube. Here are Parts 1, 2, 4 and 5 from this user; I can’t seem to find Part 3.

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UFC 100: Brock Lesnar vs Frank Mir results

Jul 12 2009 Published by Joey Alarilla under Sports

Congratulations to Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar, who destroyed UFC interim heavyweight champion Frank Mir in just two rounds to retain his title and become the undisputed champ at UFC 100.

Here’s an ESPN clip showing highlights of the Lesnar-Mir fight.

I know Brock’s post-fight antics will give people even more reason to hate him, but frankly, Mir was talking a lot of shit before the fight. In fact, lots of MMA fans slam Lesnar just because of his pro wrestling background as a former World Wrestling Entertainment champion. Never mind his outstanding amateur wrestling background as the NCAA Division I champion, his uncanny speed for a man that big, his punching power, and, most important, his burning need to win. Critics just love bringing up his WWE past in order to bring him down.

Of course, Brock seems to enjoy playing the role of villain, and it’s that ability to play a great heel (a pro wrestling term for someone who plays a villainous character) that he seems to have brought over from WWE. Some MMA fans may hate it, but that ability to trash talk and “cut a promo” is part of what makes him a colorful fighter and a pay-per-view draw. Besides, it’s not like other MMA fighters haven’t been trash talkers — the two Huntington Beach Bad Boys, Tank Abbott and Tito Ortiz, immediately come to mind. Heck, Mir was doing a lot of trash talking, before Brock shut him up inside the octagon.

Even UFC president Dana White claimed to be shocked by Brock’s post-fight antics. White is also saying that he hopes to bring in to the UFC Russian fighter Fedor Emelianenko to square off against Lesnar in what would certainly be the biggest MMA fight in history. Fedor, the World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts heavyweight champion of rival MMA organization Affliction and the last Pride Fighting Championships heavyweight champ (he remained an undefeated champ, but Japan-based Pride FC was bought out by the UFC), is considered the best fighter of all time by longtime MMA aficionados.

Meanwhile, UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre easily retained his title with a unanimous decision over Thiago Alves. Will we finally get that dream superfight between St-Pierre and UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva? I’ll be rooting for Silva, if that happens.

Check out UFC.com for the UFC 100 fight card and complete results.

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