Avatar Smashes More Records

Avatar has smashed many cinema records (including being the fastest movie to ever achieve $1 billion in global ticket sales) but now it can also add smashing DVD records to its mantle.

James Cameron’s 3-D fantasy extravaganza sold over 4 million DVD copies on its opening day, with 1.5 million copies brought on Blu-ray.

Avatar also looks set to take New Moon's crown for being the biggest selling DVD of the year. So far David A Slade’s New Moon picture has sold 6.5 million copies this year.

Selling 4 million DVD copies on its first day, we reckon that Avatar is more than likely going to leave New Moon trailing in its dust.

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The Academy Overlooks Avatar

Sci fi epic Avatar disappointed at last night's Oscars, winning only three awards out of nine nominations.

James Cameron's visual spectacular was trounced by Kathryn Bigelow's deserving low-budget Iraq drama The Hurt Locker, which nabbed best picture and best director for Bigelow - the first woman to be awarded the accolade (to add insult to injury, she also happens to be Cameron's ex-wife. Ouch). The film took six awards in total.

Cameron took home the statues for art direction, cinematography and visual effects (no surprise there), but was doubtless disappointed to miss out on the big 'uns.

The only other win for our favourite genre was in the makeup category, which predictably went to Star Trek (presumably awarded for Zachary Quinto's ears alone).

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Cameron Sued Over Avatar

Avatar director James Cameron may be facing a law suit, according to reports.

A Chinese writer named Zhou Shaomou claims that the blockbuster movie was based on his 1997 sci fi novel, Tale Of The Blue Crows.

Zhou revealed that he is seeking £97million for breach of copywright.

"80% of the plot and key elements of Avatar are similar to Tale Of The Blue Crows," the writer told the China Daily. "It tells the story of an epic journey taken by six astronauts to a distant planet which is home to a race of blue-skinned beings.

"I wrote in my novel that their space journey took them six years but in Cameron's movie the journey takes them five years, nine months and 22 days. I was shocked when I first saw that. It is too close."

Zhou, who signed a contract to have his novel published online, also told Sky News that he has struggled to file a lawsuit in China.

"I realise that no-one knows me in China but I insist on fighting for my copyright," he said. "Over ten million people have read my book over the internet.

"Nobody was supportive and many asked why someone as famous as Cameron would copy an obscure work from a little-known author. I really wanted to argue back, 'Why not?'"

James Cameron faced allegations of plagiarism previously, when he was accused by sci-fi writer Harland Ellison over the film Terminator. The director negotiated and settled out of court.

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Avatar Leads Oscar Nominations

As Avatar is now the highest-grossing worldwide film release of all time, it was impossible that the movie wouldn't top the bill at this week's Oscar nominations also. James Cameron's sci fi epic has clocked up a whopping nine nods from the academy, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Score.

But we were pleased to see a few other sci fi movies in the mix.

District 9 is also up for Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay, Editing and Visual Effects, while Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince could win a gong for Cinematography. Star Trek gets a nod in the Makeup category (presumably for Zachary Quinto's ears alone) and Visual Effects as well as Sound Editing and Sound Mixing.

Even Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen managed to squeeze in with a nomination for, erm... Sound Mixing. Well, you can't win 'em all.

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Sam Worthington To Play Dracula?

Avatar hunk Sam Worthington has been linked to Universal's upcoming vampire flick Dracula: Year Zero.

Reports claim that the Aussie actor is favourite to take the lead role in a retelling of Bram Stoker's classic horror story. The film will focus on the true history of Price Vlad and the origins of Dracula.

We'd love to see Sam fanged-up, but there's been no confirmation on this story from either side so for now we'll have to put up with drooling at him in the new Clash Of The Titans remake (Titans will clash, apparently - oh dear, Sam might be the only thing worth watching this movie for).

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Weekly News Round Up: Avatar Storms the Globes, Supernatural Renewed, Torchwood Set For US Remake

There's been plenty going on in sci fi land this week - here's our round up of the best gossip on the grapevine.

***Avatar Scoops Golden Globes Double***

James Cameron's 3D epic won big at the Golden Globes this week, scooping goings for best film (drama) and best director.

Avatar - already the second highest grossing film of all time - fought off competition from a range of critically acclaimed dramas including war thriller The Hurt Locker.

Cameron also gave us the best moment of the evening during his acceptance speech when he quipped: "I'm gonna try to make this as brief as I can 'cos frankly I have to pee something fierce." Brilliant.

***Sixth Season For Supernatural?***
Rumour has it that US network the CW is close to announcing a sixth season renewal for Supernatural.

Show creator Eric Kripke had previously planned to end the series after its current fifth season. The network has yet to release an official statement.

***Stephen Fry For Doctor Who?***
We've long thought that Stephen Fry would make a great addition to the Doctor Who cast so we're pleased to hear that TV's most beloved boffin could soon become involved with the show.

Sadly though, the Fry isn't interested in appearing in front of the camera. But he could be up for penning a script for the show.

At this week's National Television Awards, Stephen admitted that he was approached to pen an episode for David Tennant's 10th Time Lord. "The window passed, and I never really got round to it," he told the BBC. "But I'm very happy to have had the experience of thinking about it."

When asked whether he would like to work on the show in the future, he said: "I look forward so much to seeing Matt Smith and I'm sure he's going to be wonderful. If I get time it'll be a thrill, I can't think of anything nicer."

***Torchwood Set For US Makeover***

The Geeky Girls are particularly excited about this snippet of gossip from accross the pond. Former Doctor Who boss Russell T. Davies is reportedly working on a script for a US version of Torchwood.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Fox network is developing the project following the success of the show on BBC America. The US version will reportedly tackle storylines on a global scale. Whether Torchwood's main man John Barrowman will reprise the role of Captain Jack Harkness is unknown.

***James Marsters Joins Caprica***
We haven't managed to get a look at the glossy new Battlestar Galactica prequel yet, but this latest news guarantees we'll be tuning in when the series comes to Sky1 on Tue 2 Feb.

Buffy The Vampire slayer star and all-round sci fi whore James Marsters is set to appear as Barnabus Greely, an enigmatic and dangerous leading in the monotheist world.

Sounds like Spike minus the fangs - we love it!

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The Birth of Geeky Girls Love Sci-Fi

We're at the pub, celebrating the birth of our blog with chenin blanc, dedicated to female fans of all things sci-fi and fantasy e.g Edward Cullen.

Due to our positions in the know, we'll be bringing you the latest news on our favourite films, tv shows and books, like:
True Blood
Doctor Who
Lost
Heroes
Avatar
Twilight Saga
and Iron Man 2

We'll be back soon with our first proper post, but for now, it's back to the bottle!

Smoke us a kipper, we'll be back for breakfast!
The Geeky Girls XOXO

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