Evangeline Lilly joins The Hobbit

Evangeline Lilly and Barry Humphries have joined the cast of 'The Hobbit' movies, director Sir Peter Jackson has confirmed.

 

 

Evangeline Lilly has joined the cast of 'The Hobbit' movies.

The former 'Lost' actress has signed on to play a new character, Tauriel, but director Sir Peter Jackson refused to give any further details about the woodland elf.

The filmmaker revealed on his Facebook page: "Her name means 'daughter of Mirkwood' and, beyond that, we must leave you guessing! (No, there is no romantic connection to Legolas.)"

Also joining the cast for the start of the second block of shooting is Australian actor Barry Humphrie s- best known for his female comedic alter ego Dame Edna Everage – who will portray the Goblin King, with extensive use of motion capture technology.

Peter said: "We're looking forward to seeing him invest the Goblin King with the delicate sensitivity and emotional depth this character deserves."

Last week, it was announced Luke Evans and Benedict Cumberbatch had joined the cast of the two movies, playing Bard and Smaug respectively.

'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' and 'The Hobbit: There and Back Again' will be released in 2012 and 2013 respectively. Both releases will star Martin Freeman as the titular character.

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Luxury Cars That Don't Guzzle Gas

2011 BMW 528i

The terms “luxurious” and “economical” needn’t be mutually exclusive. Whether you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint or are just tired of having your pocket picked at the pump, there’s a growing number of top-shelf models on the market that boast top fuel efficiency. And we’re not talking about oddball six-figure hybrids that save a few mpg for the sake of environmental street cred among one’s peers – these are mainstream luxury cars that get at least 30 mpg and give up little in terms of either performance or comfort.

For instance, the BMW 528i is not only one of the most pleasurable-to-drive midsize luxury cars, it’s also among the most fuel-efficient. A manual transmission is standard for enthusiasts with a responsive eight-speed automatic transmission available at no extra cost for the clutch-averse. Cutting-edge amenities like a rearview camera with top-down side-view perspectives for easier parking and an infrared Night Vision system make it one of the best-selling luxury cars on the road. It’s base-priced at around $45,500 and is rated at 22/32 mpg.

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For those looking to buy American, the Lincoln MKZ hybrid (Lincoln’s version of the Ford Fusion Hybrid) treats its occupants to a luxurious interior while presenting onlookers with a fierce and edgy facade. The car can run at speeds up to 47 mph solely on battery power. Best of all, the MKZ is the only hybrid that’s priced on a par with its gasoline-powered equivalent at about $35,000. It’s rated at 41/36 mpg.

Whoever came up with the moniker “gas guzzler” may have to rethink how they define SUVs thanks to the Lexus RX 450h’s 32/28 mpg rating. Available in front- and all-wheel-drive versions, the stylish midsize hybrid luxury crossover SUV is quicker and gets better mileage than its gasoline powered equivalent. Starting at around $44,000, it remains both practical and a pleasure to drive, with a spacious and comfortable wood-trimmed five-passenger cabin that includes 10 airbags.

BMW 335d

The "clean diesel" version of the acclaimed 3 Series sedan is both efficient and sporty, with a turbocharged 3.0-liter diesel inline-six-cylinder engine producing 265 horsepower with a whopping 425 pound-feet of torque that ensures quick launches. Driving the rear wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission, this engine can take the 335d to 60 mph in just under seven seconds, which is roughly on a par with the 335i gasoline version. Superior suspension and steering systems enable adept cornering abilities that reward a skilled driver at every turn, while an available M Sport package turns the 335d into an even racier package. Priced at around $44,500, it's rated at 23/36 mpg.

Lexus HS 250h

Lexus' midsize five-passenger hybrid-powered luxury sedan is more handsomely styled than its cousin at Toyota, the Prius. Though it can't match that model's fuel economy, it's more refined and delivers more luxury-car-like comfort and performance. A 2.4-liter gas/electric powertrain produces 187 horsepower, with comfort-tuned ride and handling characteristics. In a nod to the car's "green" nature, around 30 percent of its cabin and trunk materials are so-called bioplastics that are responsible for 20 percent less carbon dioxide emissions. It starts at around $36,000 and is rated at 35/34 mpg.

Lexus RX 450h

Available in front- and all-wheel-drive versions, the stylish midsize RX 450h hybrid luxury crossover SUV is quicker and gets better mileage than its gasoline powered equivalent with its 295-horsepower electrified 3.5-liter V-6 powertrain. It remains both practical and a pleasure to drive, with a spacious and comfortable wood-trimmed five-passenger cabin that includes 10 airbags. Starting at around $44,000, high-tech options include a head-up display that projects pertinent data onto the windshield in the driver's line of sight. It's rated at 32/28 mpg.

Lincoln MKZ

Lincoln's version of the Ford Fusion Hybrid features formal chrome-capped styling, and treats its occupants to a more luxurious interior. A 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine and an electric motor generate a V6-like 191 horsepower, and the car can run at speeds up to 47 mph solely on battery power. A novel dashboard display helps motorists maximize their fuel efficiency. It comes with a long list of standard convenience features that includes heated and cooled front seats. Best of all, the MKZ is the only hybrid that's priced on a par with its gasoline-powered equivalent at about $35,000. It's rated at 41/36 mpg.

Mercedes E350 BlueTEC

This is the most-efficient version of Mercedes' elegant and accommodating midsize E-Class sedan, and it leverages its 3.0-liter turbodiesel V-6 engine for V-8-grade off-the-line acceleration with 210 horsepower and a generous 400 pound-feet of torque. A seven-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly and efficiently. Buyers can upgrade the base comfort-oriented suspension to a sport package for improved handling and specific upgrades at no difference in price, which starts at just over $51,000. It's rated at 22/33 mpg.

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Bob Hoskins hates Super Mario Bros. film

Hoskins as Mario Bob Hoskins sports a resume that most actors would envy. Best known, perhaps, for "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?," he also played key roles in "Brazil," "Mona Lisa" and "The Cotton Club."
He has appeared in nearly 100 films and television shows -- but there's one he'd like to erase from that list: 1993's Super Mario Bros.
The Guardian spoke with the 68-year old actor, peppering him with a series of questions about his career, politics and life moments. And he doesn't hesitate to give his feelings on the role that forced him to slap a comically large mustache on his mug and say lines like "Come and get it, lizard breath!" while maintaining a straight face.


It's hard to blame him. The film, which boasts a humiliating 13 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes, took its share of liberties with the famed game series.
Mario and Luigi are plumbers, yes, but they live in Manhattan and are chasing Princess Daisy -- not Peach -- who wears a necklace made from a meteor fragment that can free a race of reptilian, sewer-dwelling creatures. King Koopa, her kidnapper, hides her not in a castle, but rather in the garbage-infested underworld of Dinohattan.
It's even more confusing when you watch it. The film is essentially a nonstop reel of early 1990s special effects, with bits of nonsensical dialogue and Princess Daisy screaming "Luigi!!!" used as filler. 


SPOILER ALERT: In another ridiculous twist, Luigi gets the girl.
Hoskins' dislike of the notorious film runs deep. In 2007, he told Contact Music that working on the movie was a "nightmare" due in large part to the husband-and-wife directing team of Rocky Morton and Annabel Jankel, "whose arrogance had been mistaken for talent." Ouch.
Hoskins likely isn't the only actor who would prefer to see the movie disappear. Others who carry the stain of this cheese-tastic masterpiece on their resume include John Leguizamo, who played Luigi, and the late Dennis Hopper, who had the unfortunate luck to accept the King Koopa role.
Time Magazine has listed the film as one of the worst video game movies of all time -- but that hasn't stopped it from attracting a cult following. Even worse, it hasn't stopped the film industry from generally following the same formula of Super Mario Bros. when it makes movies based on games: ramping up the special effects budget and hoping no one notices they had a third grader write the script between classes.

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Syria: cousin of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad given travel ban

A cousin of the Syrian president has been banned from traveling abroad as the government says it is investigated the violence gripping the country.

Bashar al-Assad, Syrian President 

 

  

The move appears to be an attempt by Bashar al-Assad to show that he is serious about investigating the bloodshed.

State-run SANA news agency said the ban was imposed on Brig. Gen. Atef Najib, who ran the security department in the southern province of Daraa.

The uprising erupted there in mid-March after the arrest of 15 teenagers who scrawled anti-government graffiti.

Judge Mohammed Deeb al-Muqatran of the Special Judicial Committee says the travel ban is precautionary in order for Najib to be available for questioning. 

Al-Muqatran was quoted as saying on Monday that "no one has immunity, whoever he is."

On Sunday a mass grave containing the bodies of at least 10 soldiers was discovered by Syrian troops in a town stormed by government forces in the north of the country. 


At least four of the corpses in the grave, found outside the military police headquarters in the town of Jisr al-Shughour, near the Turkish border, had been decapitated or struck on the head by an axe, according to those present.
The government claimed the bodies, all still in uniform, were evidence of an attack by "armed gangs" on security forces it said claimed 120 lives last week.
But residents and some defecting soldiers who have fled over the border claimed that the dead were local recruits shot by their officers for refusing to open fire on peaceful protesters. 

They also claimed that the army, which moved in under cover from helicopters and tank fire, had used brutal tactics to recapture the town at the weekend.
"The soldiers told us that they would kick us into the sea," Mohammed Migdem, 60, told The Daily Telegraph, waving his arms angrily.


"They killed my uncle's son and I helped lift several dead bodies into cars with my own hands. There is a war going on in Syria against the people."
Witnesses also described how they had seen two boys trying to escape who were killed by fire from government tanks.
The unrest in Syria has claimed 1,500 lives since March, according to human rights groups, with no sign that the regime is managing to deter opposition.
There were even demonstrations at the weekend in the capital, Damascus.
Britain, France and America have led international criticism of the violence, but lack of support from the Arab League has made outside intervention likely.
China and Russia have also so far opposed a motion of condemnation at the United Nations.
"There is no prospect of getting through the UN a resolution such as the UN resolution 1973 on Libya," William Hague, the foreign secretary, said on Sky News. That resolution authorised the no-fly zone currently in place against Col Muammar Gaddafi's forces.
"In the case of Libya there was a clear call from the Arab League for action, and that was a transformative intervention. There is no such call in the case of Syria."
Mr Hague added that Syria was "undoubtedly being assisted by the Iranian government" through supplying "equipment" and advising how to crush protests.

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