She could be anywhere???

Don’t miss out on your opportunity to win a family underwater adventure holiday courtesy of the Melbourne Aquarium – VISIT ponyo.com.au

Due to a quirk of both translation and the OFLC, MMA2768, the title formerly known as SO CLOSE TO LIFE, has been re-titled BRINK OF LIFE.

In association with Warner Bros., Madman proudly presents HALO LEGENDS on DVD and Blu-Ray, a series of new animated tales based on one of the world's most popular video game franchises - Available on DVD & Blu-Ray, March 3rd, 2010.

HALO LEGENDS takes viewers deeper into the world of Halo than ever before with a seven-story anthology - told across eight spectacular episodes - that explores the origin and historical events of the Halo universe and its intriguing characters.

HALO LEGENDS has been created in the same breakthrough format as THE ANIMATRIX and BATMAN GOTHAM KNIGHT, with each individual episode interpreted by renowned anime directors and animators, including such visionary animators as Shinji Aramaki (APPLESEED) and Mamoru Oshii (GHOST IN THE SHELL), and in conjunction with Microsoft Game Studios? 343 Industries, Halo franchise development director Frank O'Connor and managing editor Kevin Grace.

The individual episodes fall within Halo's 26th Century mythology as the battle between humanity and aliens rages on in an attempt to protect Earth and mankind?s expansive number of space colonies. The dramatic, action-packed stories feature characters and locales familiar to Halo fans, and episodes range in length between 10 and 17 minutes - resulting in nearly two hours of animated adventures.

Halo is a centerpiece in the world of video games, selling more than 27 million units to a devoted legion of fans - including the latest hit Halo 3:ODST. The Halo franchise has driven more than $1 billion in revenue from its award winning Xbox games, New York Times best-selling novels and comics and a wide variety of other merchandise.

HALO LEGENDS - 2 Disc Special Edition version will have several hours of incredible bonus features, including:

- The Making of Halo Legends - An introduction to Halo Legends followed by a making-of segment for each episode.
- Halo: Gaming Evolved - Explaining the Halo phenomenon from its inception as an Xbox video game to a present day entertainment franchise.
- Audio Commentary with directors Frank O'Connor and Joseph Chou

HALO LEGENDS on Blu-Ray will also be loaded with bonus materials, including all the great extras from the 2-disc Special Edition as well as 'Halo: The Story so Far', an overview of the Halo universe up until the end of the Halo 3 game.

"HALO LEGENDS offers fans stunning, new creative visions of the popular video game's expansive universe, providing added depth and perspective to these beloved characters and thrilling environments," said Halo franchise development director Frank O'Connor. "It is a perfect complement to the game's growing canon of ancillary entertainment options."

HALO LEGENDS is available on DVD & Blu-Ray, March 3rd, 2010.

New Moon grossed at least half a billion dollars at the worldwide box office; Thirst earned $318,574 in North America. But the South Korea mad-love story was our vampire movie of the year. Writer-director Park Chan-wook ? he of the ultra-violent Vengeance trilogy ? took the basic genre canvas and splattered it with ecstasy, pain and all the bodily fluids, especially blood. A Catholic priest (Song Kang-ho), turned into a vampire after undergoing a dangerous medical experiment, is drawn to the lonely wife (Kim Ok-vin) of the priest's feeble school chum. When the priest and his demon lover fall into a torrid affair, Thirst melds with the obsessions of its characters and goes orgasmically nuts with them. In this nutsy-greatsy melodrama, the acting revelation is Kim, who evolves from a creature of mute docility to one of desperate ardor, then explosive eroticism, then murderous intent. She is Lady Chatterley and Lady Macbeth in one smoldering package.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1945379_1943915_1943936,00.html#ixzz0ZotK2RLi

SBS DVD series' have picked up several major awards in the television and documentary categories at the 2009 Samsung Mobile AFI Industry and Ceremony Awards.

The second season of Sydney-based multicultural crime drama EAST WEST 101 (starring Don Hany and Susie Porter) scored three key 2009 AFI Awards at Saturday evening?s ceremony - Best Television Drama, Best Direction in Television (Episode 13, Peter Andrikidis) and Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama (Susie Porter).

In the documentary category, SBS series CRACKING THE COLOUR CODE won for Best Cinematography in a Documentary (Episode 2, ?Making the Colours?), whilst breakthrough historical series FIRST AUSTRALIANS was recognised with the award for Best Documentary Series.

Nominations for SBS series' were abundant in several other categories, including EAST WEST 101, Season 2, Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama (Don Hany) and Best Screenplay in Television (Episode 13, 'Atonement'), CRACKING THE COLOUR CODE, Best Editing in a Documentary (Episode 2, 'Making the Colours'), FIRST AUSTRALIANS Best Direction in a Documentary (Episode 4, 'There Is No Other Law') and DEATH OF THE MEGABEASTS for the AFI Visual Effects Award.

SAMSON & DELILAH wins 7 AFI awards

BALIBO wins 4 AFI awards

The Madman ICONIC AUSSIE FILMS range of releases have garnered a major sweep of awards at the 2009 Samsung Mobile AFI Industry and Ceremony Awards.

The talk of the Australian Film Industry in 2009, SAMSON & DELILAH took out Best Film, Best Direction (Warwick Thornton), Best Original Screenplay and a shared AFI Young Actor Award for Rowan McNamara and Marissa Gibson at Saturday evening's ceremony, as well as Industry Awards for Best Cinematography (Warwick Thornton), Best Sound and the AFI Member?s Choice Award.

Making major headlines at home and abroad, and recently controversially banned in Indonesia, Robert Connelly?s BALIBO also picked up a number of major awards, including Best Lead Actor (Anthony LaPaglia), Best Adapted Screenplay (David Williamson, Robert Connolly), Best Supporting Actor (Oscar Isaac), and an AFI Industry Award for Best Editing (Nick Meyers ASE).

GLASS: A PORTRAIT OF PHILIP IN TWELVE PARTS - Scott Hicks' study of internationally acclaimed composer, Philip Glass, also picked up a 2009 ceremony award for Best Feature Length Documentary.

Balibo has attracted major exposure and front page news across the country.

Balibo Press PDF

Hulk Hogan announced over the weekend at the UFC show on Spike TV that TNA Impact! will now be moved to Monday nights and be broadcast live, essentially going head to head with WWE's flagship show - Monday Night Raw.

Hulk Hogan has also confirmed that he will be appearing on the January 4th show, making this his on show debut.



Get ready to go to war!

MEDIA ALERT 3 DECEMBER 2009

ANIMAL KINGDOM ACCEPTED INTO SUNDANCE

ANIMAL KINGDOM, the debut feature film of writer / director David Michôd and produced by Liz Watts (HOME SONG STORIES, JEWBOY, LITTLE FISH), has been accepted into the World Cinema Section of the much respected Sundance Film Festival 2010.

Due for national release in Australia through Madman Entertainment in May 2010, ANIMAL KINGDOM is a powerful psychological drama set in Melbourne's criminal landscape featuring an all star ensemble cast including Ben Mendelsohn, Joel Edgerton, Guy Pearce, Luke Ford, Jacki Weaver, Sullivan Stapleton and introducing James Frecheville.

In addition to Animal Kingdom's success, David Michôd has had a double dose of good news having co-written the independent US feature HESHER, which has been invited to screen in Sundance 2010's US Competition. HESHER was co-written with director Spencer Susser and stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Natalie Portman and Rainn Wilson

The acceptance of ANIMAL KINGDOM and HESHER into Sundance 2010 continues David's relationship with the festival which began in 2008 when his short film Crossbow (which he wrote and directed) was invited to screen along with two other shorts he co-wrote, Nash Edgerton's Spider and Spencer Susser's I Love Sarah Jane. In 2009, the festival also screened David's short film Netherland Dwarf.

Delighted with the invitation from the festival, David said "Having my shorts screen at Sundance was a really big deal for me. Knowing now that my first feature is going to have its world premiere there is about as exciting as it gets."

James Hewison, Madman's Theatrical Distribution Manager enthused, "We're absolutely stoked that David's debut has found its natural home at this most vital festival, a fitting launch pad for not only the international market but for recognition back home in Australia."

Producer Liz Watts commented "After Sundance's support for David's short films over the past years, it's incredibly fitting to be presenting his feature debut at Sundance this year, we are thrilled to have ANIMAL KINGDOM in world competition at such a prestigious festival on the world stage, it's a wonderful reward for a heap of people's hard work!"

For further information please contact:

NIX Co

E: info@nixco.com.au
T: 02 9211 6650

or Gabrielle Oldaker
Madman Entertainment

E: gabrielle@madman.com.au
T: 03 9419 5444

ABOUT MADMAN ENTERTAINMENT
MADMAN is Australia's leading independent home entertainment and theatrical distribution and rights management company, specialising in the wholesale distribution of DVD product into retail and rental stores throughout Australia. Madman product categories include Kids, TV, arthouse film, Australian independent features, animation and Japanese anime. Madman is owned by Funtastic Limited, one of Australia's largest wholesalers of consumer products into retail outlets and an Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) listed company.

Please note that ELEMENTAL GELADE VOL. 11 was incorrectly solicited in our upcoming "Summer" manga guide at $14.95 SRP.

The correct SRP is $15.95, which reflects its increased US cover price.

Please also note that KING OF THORN VOL. 6 will not be released December 10th, 2009 as planned due to non-fulfillment by the supplier.

This title has now been postponed until the second half of 2010.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

The Madman Manga Team