Two of my favorite things have come together in a sexy new ad campaign aimed at horny alcoholics: Vodka and actress Kate Beckinsale (Underworld, Whiteout). Photographer Ellen Von Unwerth has photographed Beckinsale for a series of ads promoting some of Absolut Vodka’s signature cocktails.  Beckinsale dons costumes inspired by the old-school sci-fi-comedy Attack of the 50 Foot Woman and the classic urban legend Bloody Mary.

Absolut’s ad campaign also features actress Zooey Deschanel (The Happening) in a Barbarella inspired pose.

Konami Digital Entertainment has announced a Dec. 8 street date for the debut of its Silent Hill franchise on the Nintendo Wii system. The company describes Silent Hill: Shattered Memories as  a re-imaging of the first Silent Hill game.

The synopsis reads:

Silent Hill: Shattered Memories begins just like the original as Harry Mason is searching for his daughter through the snowy streets of the haunted Silent Hill where he will encounter a cast of unique characters. However, this time, players are equipped with only a flashlight and cell phone to get story information, solve puzzles and navigate the darkness while escaping the demons that lurk among them.  In addition, a psych-profiling feature has been added to analyze players and adjust itself to their actions, making this the most customizable and terrifying survival horror title to date.

PSP and Playstation 2 versions of the game will follow soon after.

The Silent Hill games are arguably the best in the horror-survival genre. I recommend locking your doors before initiating game-play. You don’t want anyone walking in on you as your arms are flailing with the Wiimote and you’re calling out for mommy.

Now, check out the trailer:

The red-carpet premiere of Oscar-winner Peter Jackson’s (Lord of the Rings) The Lovely Bones was held Wednesday night at the Paris theater in New York . The film, which marks Jackson’s return to directing since 2005’s King Kong, opens in limited release on Dec. 11 in New York and Los Angeles, before going nationwide on Jan. 15.

The Lovely Saoirse Ronan

The supernatural-drama tells the heartbreaking tale of Susie Salmon, a 14-year-old girl who is raped and murdered by a neighborhood man. Her grief-stricken father, played by Mark Wahlberg, desperately sets out to help find his daughter’s killer, all the while being guided by Susie’s spirit.

Bat man

Judging from the following clip, this could be Wahlberg’s best dramatic role since Boogie Nights. Check it out:

Susan Sarandon officially makes her transition from MILF to GILF in the film as Susie’s hard-boiled, whiskey-swigging nana.  Take a look:

The Lovely Bones costars 15-year-old actress Saoirse Ronan as rape/murder victim Susie Salmon, Rachel Weisz as her mother, Michael Imperioli as Det. Fenerman and Stanley Tucci as Susie’s killer, Mr. Harvey.To see more clips and the film’s trailer, click here.

And, don’t forget to check out the following gallery:

[View with PicLens]

Friends of feather wait together. I had erroneously reported that The Guardians of Ga’Hoole would have its premier in Australia on Dec. 9 of this year. It did sound too good to be true and my eyes (or was it the public school system) did, indeed, fail me when reading the ABC Australia story. There film is slated for release on Sept. 24.

Click here to see images from the movie.

Ga’Hoole, the 3-D animated feature from director Zack Snyder (300, Watchmen), was test screened for audiences here in Los Angeles, leading me to believe the picture will  be out a lot sooner. I still think we’ll see Ga’Hoole before the summer.

(UPDATE: Click here and here for latest news on Ga’Hoole)

Director Zack Snyder

So, now, I’m left with this picture of Zack Snyder (he looks disappointed too) and an agonizing self-hatred for having led you astray. My apologies.

In any case, this part of the post remains accurate:

Contrary to earlier reports, actor Huge Jackman is not attached to the project. But, his countrymen Geoffrey Rush, David Wenham, Ryan Kwanten, Jay Laga’aia, Emily Barclay, Abbie Cornish, and Emilie de Ravin (aka: Claire from “Lost!”) have all been confirmed. Sam Neil, Hugo Weaving, Miriam Margolyes, Helen Mirren and Jim Sturgess round out the cast.

Guardians of Ga’Hoole is the story of a young orphaned barn owl named Soren (voiced by Sturgess) and his quest to escape a group of war-mongering owls. The film is an adaptation of  the first three books in author Kathryn Lasky’s fantasy series of the same name.

Guardians of Ga’Hoole is produced by Village Roadhouse and Australia’s very own Oscar-winning animation studio Animal Logic (Happy Feet).