Jimbo

The decision to drop Oscar-winner Peter Jackson as director of The Hobbit film has led to an online petition of 1,100 people asking for him to be reinstated. A website has also been set up urging a boycott of producer New Line Cinema, and fans have used weblogs and forums to question the studio's judgement. Jackson refused to discuss a follow-up to his Lord of the Rings trilogy until a dispute about DVD royalties was over. But New Line said it had only "limited time" and was proceeding without him. A petition created this week on the Petition Online website - and signed by more than 1,100 people - called for The Hobbit to be filmed "the way it was meant to be or not at all". The petition said that a Hobbit movie without Peter Jackson and his writers and special effects team was not what fans wanted. "The characters and scenery will all be new and unfamiliar and props, costumes, and the backdrop of New Zealand will all be lost," it said. "Most likely even the original actors will not sign on to do it - can you imagine someone other than Ian McKellen playing Gandalf the Grey?" A user of fan site theonering.net has registered the domain name boycottnewline.com, which links to another petition. "Something must happen to get New Line and Jackson to talk about the [legal case], which has been hanging over future Tolkein-related productions since 2005," the owner has written. "The only way to get New Line to budge is to boycott future New Line productions until they sit down and hash things out with Peter Jackson." 'Wrong guy' Before the story emerged this week, there was already a site - thehobbitfilm.com - encouraging fans to ask top studio executives to get on with making the movie with Jackson. It urged people to send letters or postcards because "the only way we are going to reach our goal of having a live-action version of The Hobbit from Peter Jackson and his team is by keeping after the studios who own the rights". However, other fans were more relaxed about the way the project was progressing. "That's the best news I've heard concerning Peter Jackson in about five years," wrote one person on the ringbearer.org site. "He's exactly the wrong guy to handle The Hobbit in any way shape or form." Another, on theonering.net, said: "I'm sure The Hobbit will turn out to be a success even without the help of the great Peter Jackson." A spokesman for distributor MGM told Variety newspaper that the matter was "far from closed", leaving some people hoping Jackson would return. "Hopefully they will see the light and involve the two people who have proven worth in telling the stories," one person wrote in the chatroom at theonering.net. Neither New Line nor MGM was available for further comment.

Everyone always says that...but I'm not so sure Tyson was vithciouthneth perthonified So were Foreman and Liston and both had bigger punches than Tyson. Ok they weren't as quick, but they still got what was coming to them. It was more the sheer violence I was thinking of I've never seen such an aggressive boxer. Fair do's though...we'll never know for sure We will though, I've TOLD you. Its hard to compare Tyson with Liston or Foreman, Tyson was much shorter than those two, and as rightly pointed out, much quicker, Liston and Foreman had one punch knock out power, whilst Tyson finished opponents off with clusters of punches, very different styles to compare. I was referring more to the aura he built up re "viciousness personified". Liston was supposed to have something similar and Foreman was seen as unbeatable when Ali was getting ready to fight him - he'd absolutely brained Frazier. You'll have seen When We Were Kings and the likes of Plimpton and Mailer and all the boxing writers genuinely feared for Ali's health. Tyson was fast as owt, but I'd like to think that Ali's legs would have got him out of bother as he just jabbed Tyson's head off. I agree, the only thing I'd add is that Joe Frazier is probably the closest Ali got to a Tyson as an opponent, and as we all know Frazier beat Ali in 71 and gave him huge problems in the next 2 fights and I'd say Tyson was better than Frazier, but we will never know.

Dead right Alex, if you ever see the Dempsey Vs Willard fight, its like watching Tyson. That punch when he broke Willard's jaw/face/head. Christ on a bike! He kept going for about 2 more rounds after that I think. Willard was down 7 times in the first round, Dempsey and his manager had a huge bet on a first round KO, Willard hung on until the 3rd, a brutal fight.

Dead right Alex, if you ever see the Dempsey Vs Willard fight, its like watching Tyson.

Everyone always says that...but I'm not so sure Tyson was vithciouthneth perthonified So were Foreman and Liston and both had bigger punches than Tyson. Ok they weren't as quick, but they still got what was coming to them. It was more the sheer violence I was thinking of I've never seen such an aggressive boxer. Fair do's though...we'll never know for sure We will though, I've TOLD you. Its hard to compare Tyson with Liston or Foreman, Tyson was much shorter than those two, and as rightly pointed out, much quicker, Liston and Foreman had one punch knock out power, whilst Tyson finished opponents off with clusters of punches, very different styles to compare.

In the first fight, aye. I stayed up until about 5 am for the rematch. Jesus wept! I remember winning the pub sweep stake for the result of that fight, I bought 2 tickets one for me and one for a mate, one was for Bruno on points, the other was Tyson by KO in the 3rd, I took one glance at the tickets and gave the Bruno on points ticket to my mate.

Those jailhouse tattoos are a real turn on......

I was went up to Hampden when he boxed Lou Saverese, a three day trip of a 35 second fight ! but at least I can say I saw him box.

How about if you're on a bus coming back to barracks and some tim c*nt blows it up? Simple, if the risk of injury whilst defending your country is unacceptable, don't sign up !

Agreed, the Ali that beat Liston and Williams probably would have made Tyson look like a crude slugger, but with his punch, he'd always have a chance, if Frazier and Cooper could put Ali on his arse I'm sure Tyson could have, and who knows, might have kept him down for the count.

Nah a certain American rapist became world heavyweight champion at 20 years old.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXVLhr0eysI Seems like only yesterday, shame the loon fucked it all up, could have and should have been the greatest of all time in my opinion.

I'm all for our armed forces getting all the support and care they need if they have been injured in armed conflict, but compensation ? In my opinion that’s the price on the ticket, an accepted occupational hazard, it makes as much sense as a boxer reporting his opponent for assault. If you can't accept the prospect of being shot, don't sign up.

I don't think its only Muslims that have their own style mortgages, I think other religions have their own particular style loans, I think its all down to the phrasing of the agreements so it doesn't contravine rulings in the Koran etc regarding lending and loaning.

David Blaine starts spin cycle in Times Square THE ASSOCIATED PRESS David Blaine’s latest stunt is as much about charity as publicity. The magician traveled to Times Square on Tuesday for a topsy-turvy Thanksgiving escape, stepping inside a gyroscope where his hands and feet will eventually be shackled. Blaine has until Friday morning to shed his shackles in the spinning scope; if he does, 100 children selected by The Salvation Army will go on a shopping spree. The shackles go on Thursday at 2 p.m., giving Blaine 16 hours to make his great escape. “This is more difficult than anything I’ve ever done,” Blaine said before he was loaded into the gyroscope, which was then hoisted 40 feet into the air. “I’ve not tested it much. I will be learning how to do this as I’m doing it.” The gyroscope, with three spinning steel rings, will flip Blaine in assorted directions as often as eight times per minute. Several hundred people turned out for the start of the stunt, which was set up just a few blocks from the site where Blaine once spent 61 hours inside a block of ice. This shaped up as another chilly stunt for Blaine, who has no protection from the elements other than his clothing — including a black nylon ski jacket with matching pants. By 11 a.m., the temperature in midtown Manhattan was barely above 40 degrees. If Blaine makes his escape (and does anyone think he won’t?), he will lead the underprivileged kids on a shopping expedition at Target. Each child will receive a $500 gift certificate from the retailer. Blaine said this stunt was particularly important to him since The Salvation Army had provided him with clothing while he was growing up. “This challenge is close to my heart,” said Blaine. The gyroscope escape is just the latest big event for Blaine. This past May, he spent 177 hours underwater in one of his endurance stunts. Previously, he spent 35 hours balanced atop a 100-foot pole and was buried alive in a see-through coffin for a week.

Film director Robert Altman dies Robert Altman, acclaimed director of MASH, Nashville, Gosford Park and The Player, has died at the age of 81, his production company has announced. A Hollywood maverick renowned for his improvisational style, he passed away in a Los Angeles hospital on Monday. A five-time best director nominee at the Academy Awards, he never won the movie industry's top honour. But he was given an honorary Oscar this year for "a career that has repeatedly reinvented the art form". Actor Kevin Spacey, director of the Old Vic, said he had been "privileged" to work with him. "Robert Altman was a truly unique director and an extraordinary man," he said. "We are all saddened by this news and send our condolences to his wife Kathryn and family." Actor and author Julian Fellowes, who wrote the screenplay for Altman's 2001 film Gosford Park, called him "an extraordinary character". "He was a giant of the industry who kept the energy of a youthful rebel until his 81st year," he told BBC News 24. The recipient of a heart transplant in 1995, Altman was continually in and out of favour with both audiences and critics. His other films included the "revisionist" Western movie McCabe and Mrs Miller and comic strip adaptation Popeye. His last film, A Prairie Home Companion, was released in the US earlier this year. The cause of his death was not disclosed. "No other film-maker has gotten a better shake than I have," he said while accepting his honorary Oscar in March. "I'm very fortunate in my career. "I've never had to direct a film I didn't choose or develop. My love for film-making has given me an entree to the world and to the human condition."

Clicky here

Very hash, especially considering how Hollywood has romantisised it recently

Most Goals in a match

Most 10 rated players in a match:

I'm not bothered about the woman wearing her cross either, the thing that bothers me is that I suspect that if the person had been a male sikh he wouldn't have been told to remove his Turban.

When was the last time you had a curry? People only think of the cons, it cant really be double standards to the extent people wish. But to be fair the british adapted curry and changed half the names of the dishes to sound English, well so says my Indian mate, Im not so keen on the fact an Extremist preacher can say what the fuck he wants and get away with itl.. '' This country is a toilet ect'' If thats the case, fuck off home and enjoy the car bombs... Other cultures have enriched our own in a lot of cases, my only problem is when British culture is expected to adapt rather than the other way round.

Did you see him at The Secret Policeman's Ball the other night? Natalie Imbruglia joined him on stage halfway through (she was singing the whole song live), and even joined in with the miming towards the end! Fucking brilliant. Yes, fucking superb !! here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69PPqeMxNzE

That guy is a ringer for Jimbo!