Cinematical

But for every long-dead icon that makes his or her way to the screen, there are still-living names who must watch themselves and a version of their life on film. It's one accomplishment to get the approval of a notable name, it's a whole other thing entirely to get a of approval.

Nevertheless, while the details are mired in fact and fiction, it seems as though of Stephen Frears' .

While no specific word on the film has been released from the royal icon, , , screenwriter and the film's producer, , have received "a discreeet invitation" to have lunch at Buckingham Palace in the New Year. Word isn't clear whether this is a lunch WITH the Queen, or just some tasty treats in the Palace. I guess that giving an un-said seal of approval is much different than face-to-face recorded approval.

However, according to some buzz at the Daily Mail, the Queen has claimed the film is her favorite of the year. We'll have to wait until the lunch happens to see if Queen's filmmakers get approving validation straight from the source, or if their contact with the Queen will be restricted to word from her private secretary, .

Whether its due to a thoughtful, snooping ear or a collective consciousness, if one film gets made about a particular subject, chances are that at least one other one will follow suit. In February, that Alec Baldwin was set to star in The Forbidden City, a movie about an American who returns to China to find the man responsible for The Rape of Nanking. Months later, that another Nanking film was to be made -- based on Iris Chang's book*, which was released on the 60th anniversary of the slaughter, The Rape of Nanking.

The film is , as its set to start filming in January. A Chinese, British and American co-production, the movie has a script penned by William Macdonald, and it will be directed by Con Air helmer . It's an interesting choice, considering the fact that West is known for his lighter action fare, and not serious, historically-based cinema.

The film is set to be released on the 70th anniversary of the start of the slaughter, December 13, 2007, with a wider release in 2008. For those who aren't familiar with this bit of history, was a massacre committed by Japanese troops while they occupied the city of Nanking. The crimes included rape, executions and arson, and while the recorded death toll varies, it is believed to be in the hundreds of thousands.

*Thank you, Bill, for the correction. I'm not sure what inspired my fingers to type out "novel!" -MB

No, scratch that. He was also in , the terrible David Boreanaz movie, but I had everything except the name of the film wiped from my memory. Anyhow, you might remember Whitworth as A.

J., the deep artist who didn't need to explain his art and had to tell Corey he loved her by 1:37. While the movie was not cinematically stellar achievement, his was one role I watched with amusement.

He was too damned sweet with his floppy hair and big eyes to be a deep artist, and he seemed too asexual to *really* have the hots for Corey. Nevertheless, I've missed him.

He's done some CSI appearances and other blips recently, and now he's joined , as a member of Ben Wade's (Russell Crowe) gang.

Cinematical has been , if you need to catch up. Honestly, at this moment, I can't think of anything funnier than Mr. Whitworth in some chaps and a cowboy hat, although some more recent pictures show him having a .

However, if the cowboy world is not your thing, you can also catch a glimpse of him in the upcoming as Silver George. He's pretty far down on the cast list, so keep your eyes peeled.

If you're younger, you probably remember the immortal words spoken by Dave Chappelle, "I'm Rick James, bitch!" (A phrase James apparently used during that period -- and you thought was all fiction!) In February, on Terrance Howard that said he was in talks to star as Mr.

James. While I don't know if this is the same movie, there is definitely a super-freaky film in the works.

that Sheldon Turner, writer of and Magneto, the X-Men spin-off, will pen the script, which will be produced by Jennifer Klein.

The pair acquired the rights to an unpublished manuscript that James wrote about his life, before he passed away in 2004, that they plan to publish when the film comes out. They've also secured the rights to his music -- really, what would the film be without that ? According to Turner, it will not be a "typical rags-to-riches-to-drugs music biopic," and instead will follow James' partying and feuding.

In that case, this might just be the most fun biopic ever. When was the last time we had a film based on a musician that wasn't fuelled by drama?

There were way too many ARR! exclamations, rum refrences and drunk, hairy men for my tastes. However, the film was one of those times where I was entirely sucked into a movie, loving its life, its actors and its disregard for reality.

While the second instalment was also mind-bogglingly successful, it was filler -- the chance to enter all the little bits of story in before the big wrap-up, without the cohesive structure ...

although it did have one hell of a and the best that I've seen in years.

Although pictures have been lurking on the web in recent weeks, Disney has finally released for that comes out five months from Christmas Day. If the pictures are any indication of the larger work, I think fans will be squealing in their seats.

You've got Elizabeth Swann looking swanky and seeming perfectly comfortable at Captain Jack's right hand, and she's also the perfect inner strength for a Barbossa-Sparrow sandwich. And then, finally, looks right at home with stoic look and furrowed brows. Now the fangirl in me takes over, and I hope for Will Turner's swift demise, and for Ms.

Swann to taunt the pants off Sparrow until she can't resist him any longer. ..

.