The director and co-stars of ‘The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus,’ talk about working with the late actor.

Three new stills and one behind the scenes image to promote Terry Gilliam’s The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus have appeared on DVD Forum. You’ll be able to marvel over them all below the break. Parnassus is being described in the same few terms over and over again. It was Heath Ledger’s final film, and after his death, Terry Gilliam turned to Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell to complete the picture by stepping in and filling in for Ledger, playing his character in a series of fantasy sequences. You’ve probably also heard some scaremongering that the film is going to bypass US cinemas but, truthfully, there’s nothing to that rumor at all. Indeed, a buyers screening this week seemed to spark a whole new wave of interest amongst American distributors even ahead of the film’s Cannes premiere. According to Entertainment Weekly, some of these buyers criticized the film’s storyline as being “rather complex” but that reflects on the buyers more than the film. – From SlashFilm

Goodnite….

We told you. Slumdog sweeps the Oscars… Everyone, on stage! “Passion and belief, anything is possible.”

Best Picture goes to Slumdog Millionaire…

Steven Spielberg? “Capable of anything…” “Destiny.”

Best Actor goes to… SEAN PENN! “You homo loving commie sons of guns…” “Equal rights for everyone…” Nice nod to Mickey….

Ah, Randy the Ram. “The returning champ…”

Sean Penn, has got to win this….

OLD GUYS! Okay, Best Actor. Frank! Sean Penn! Funny, DeNiro! Brad Pitt. Blah… buttons…

“I was 8 years old, staring into the mirror, talking into a shampoo bottle…” “Whistle something!” “Anthony and Sydney, this is for you…” Great speech, lovely.

KATE…..!!!! Of course, KATE WINS IT! Deserves this win.

Angelina intro by Nicole. Not much warmth…

Wonderful, but Kate is gonna win this.

Best Actress!!! Wow, such legends… Awww, Anne….

Best Director — should go to Danny Boyle. YES, THE SWEEP CONTINUES, DANNY TAKES IT!!!! SLUMDOG!!!! Tigger… What a great film maker… Such great movies, each movie different. A real artist.

Reese is way too thin!

Move on dot org guys…

The Queen… Always sad. Ollie Johnson. Bernie Mac. Roy. Issac. Richardo. Stan Winston! Chuck. Anthony. Pollack. Paul Newman. Wow.

On with the show! (shot!) Left the room for a few… who’s that guy?

(I didn’t know Hoover still made vacuums…)

SLUMDOG TO WIN ALL!!!! Ha… Bollywood takes Hollywood!

Wow, Slumdog is rocking the house! I think we know they’re gonna win all.

Slumdog sweeps continues. Best original score!

Ok, I’m getting tired, let’s move along.

“This touches my heart…” – Jerry Lewis.

Poor Eddie Murphy… Looks nice and thin, tho. Jerry is less puffy. He better not bash the gays… Hello Dino!

A tribute to Jerry Lewis next… Good nite….

And the sweep continues on…… Slumdog!

Slumdog sweep continues!

Will Smith. ok. Visual effects. The Dark Knight has gotta take it! Buttons?! Blah. Sound editing…. Dark Knight?!! YESSSSS So cool….

Wait, are these the 2008 Oscars? Fuck!

Bill Maher… zzz. Man on Wire. Brilliant docu! Fuck u, Bill, he did deserve.

Heath Ledger is the only winner. ONLY WINNER! Heath Ledger wins Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. Family goes up… “Ever so humbling…” “Son’s amazing work.” “Validated… in an industry he so loved….”

Cuba Jr. is here for the free food! Idiot.

Another glass. Another hour…

More Hugh! The musical is back. Beyoncé? Didn’t somebody punch her? Grease! Baz!

Seth is still way too thin. Fatten up, boy. Something won…. toyland?

ZZZZ. Ok mini-Judd Apatow flick. SETH! FRANCO! Zohan!

Jessica Biel. Really ?!?

Badger dog is great…

Get on with it. Stiller? Portman? Funny. Take that, Phoenix! Slumdog sweep continues….

Some dbag from Twilight… Hottie from Veronica Mars! Romance?

Best Make Up… Buttons. Blah. Whatever. Nice laundry list.

Ok, costumes… The Duchess… Never watched, don’t care. Get off the stage… Zzzz.

Horseface and Daniel Craig! Blah blah blah Buttons… Looked great tho.

Best short animated film? Who gives a fuck… Getting a drink. Oh, I loved Presto tho. Something else won. Ok… Drink.

WALL-E the ONLY WINNER! Should’ve been Best Picture. Yes, WALL-E takes it! Andrew Stanton back on stage again. Pixar rocks.

Maniston! Black! Jennifer is terrible… Why is this TV hack even here?

Screenplay – best adaption… Fuck Buttons! Dig Frost/Nixon!!!! Slumdog Millionaire!! The Slumdog sweep begins here.

Screenplay – best original… WALL-E! But Milk takes it! Worth it, deserves it. “Hope to live my life.” Touching speech. Fuck, i need more drink…

Tina Fey has that retard girl but fuckable look.

Ok, next. So far, enjoying new format. Tina Fey! Steve Martin!

Best supporting actress: Penelope Cruz. I still don’t think she knows where she is… Thanks Woody, thanks Harvey. She’s from aqua velva? Spanish!

Philip Seymour Hoffman. Take off your fuckin’ stocking hat — what, is it too cold there?

Hot Oscar ladies — yeah! Oh wait, not hot at all. Is Whoopi pregnant?

Meryl Streep. 15 nominations!

Why is Philip Seymour Hoffman wearing a stocking hat?

“I’m Wolverinnnnnne!”

The Reader number was brilliant….

Man, I want to titty f – Anne Hathaway…

Brad Pitt seems to be enjoying himself.

Great opening number… Hugh is perfect doing this. Wow, so great on stage. Musicals are in his blood. Need more booze…

“Australian playing an Austrian in Australia.” – hilarious Hugh.

Kate Winslet, oh, I’m so shy. C’mon…

Hugh Jackman… Fuckin’ Wolverine!

Glittery gay Hollywood! Pretty set.

Live for the Kodak Theater. And Diet Coke… Wait, what?

Shot of Johnny Walker during the commercial. On with the fuckin’ show!

The ABC red carpet sucked! Why are they always douchebags?!

The Judd Apatow gang! Man, Leslie Mann is hot! I bet she gives great head. Seth Rogen is looking too thin. All for the Green Hornet movie, which I doubt will ever be made, so fatten up, Seth!

Jack Black. Hilarious and awkward.

Penélope Cruz. I don’t think she knows exactly where she is…

Meryl Streep. I’d still do her.

Less Billy Bush on the Red Carpet, which is always a good thing.

Welcome to show. Smoke em if you got em.

Check this space — I, Alex will be live bloggin ‘the 2009 Oscars with a MacBook and bottle of Johnny Walker scotch. No, really, dangerous, huh? Live reactions will be here. New stuff at top, older at bottom. Simple, right? Join me in comments below.

Meanwhile… Techcrunch…

This tip comes from a very good source that we shall call Felix, that is personally connected to the Buzz Newsroom team. Also, Felix has tripped us on other news that has panned out before; of course, we should always take tips with a grain of salt. He’s working on the ABC production team and close to Bill Condon and Larry Mark (the guys running the Oscar broadcast, respectively the director and the producer of Dreamgirls). If Bill and Larry are around, so is Felix. Here’s the text we received about 10 minutes ago, naming Slumdog Millionare as winner of Best Picture:

THINGS ARE HECTIC. RIGHT NOW THE FOCUS IS ON LOGISTICS, SECURITY AND FLOW. WE’RE WORKING ON MUSIC QUES, SO THE RIGHT SOUNDTRACK MUSIC CHIMES IN WHEN THE “WINNER” STEPS UP TO THE STAGE. IN THE BOOTH, THEY KEEP ON FOCUSING ON THREE THINGS: SLUMDOG MILLIONARE FOR BEST PICTURE, KATE WINSLET FOR BEST ACTRESS, HEATH LEDGER FOR BEST SUPPORTING. NOTHING ELSE. IVE BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE BOOTH, HOPE TO GET MORE INFO SOON.

We’ll you read all that here first, folks!!!!

Late Australian actor Heath Ledger won a posthumous Oscar and “Slumdog Millionaire” scooped four honors Sunday as the 81st Academy Awards got off to an electrifying and poignant start in Hollywood. Ledger, who died last year of an accidental drug overdose at the age of 28, won the best supporting actor for his portrayal of Batman’s arch-enemy the Joker in last year’s summer blockbuster “The Dark Knight.” – from AFP

Kate Winslet has won the best-actress Academy Award for the Holocaust-themed drama “The Reader,” while best-picture favorite “Slumdog Millionaire” has cruised to seven Oscars, including best director for Danny Boyle. A five-time loser at the Oscars previously, Winslet triumphed for her role as a former concentration camp guard in an affair with a teenager. – from AP

“Slumdog Millionaire” is the Academy Awards champion, wrapping up its ghetto-to-glory story by winning best picture and seven other Oscars, including the directing honor for Danny Boyle. A story of hope amid squalor in Mumbai, India, “Slumdog Millionaire” also had wins that include adapted screenplay, cinematography, editing and both music Oscars, score and song. – from NWI

Watch Chris’ Nolan accept Ledger’s award:

The late Heath Ledger was honored Sunday night with a Screen Actors Guild award for his no-holds-barred turn as the Joker in “The Dark Knight.” Gary Oldman, who co-starred in the Batman film, accepted the supporting actor award on behalf of Ledger, who died last January at age 28 of a prescription drug overdose. “I’m quite emotional,” said Oldman, who seemed to be holding back tears. “It is a great honor to be asked to accept this on behalf of Heath. He was an extraordinary young man with an extraordinary talent. … On behalf of Heath, his family and his family on ‘The Dark Knight,’ I thank you.” – From LA Times

British actress Kate Winslet and comedian Tina Fey were early winners on Sunday at the Screen Actors Guild awards, which could produce surprises in a season dominated by “Slumdog Millionaire” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.” Winslet won the best supporting actress SAG award for her role as a German woman with a hidden Nazi past in “The Reader.” Winslet won a Golden Globe earlier this month for her performance. – From Reuters

Josh Brolin compared the 15th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards to “a big campfire we’re all showing up for,” but Hollywood’s A list showed up in their finest. “It’s not a competition,” the actor said of the awards show, which is being aired Sunday night. “We’re just happy to party together.” Still, those who carry home SAG Actor trophies also walk away with a boost to their careers, shows and movies. – From CNN

Full list of winners:

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Sean Penn, “Milk”

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Meryl Streep, “Doubt” (Winner)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight” (Winner)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Kate Winslet, “The Reader” (Winner)

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Winner)

Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
“The Dark Knight” (Winner)

TELEVISION

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
Hugh Laurie, “House M.D.” (Winner)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
Sally Field, “Brothers & Sisters” (Winner)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
Alec Baldwin, “30 Rock” (Winner)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Tina Fey, “30 Rock” (Winner)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
“Mad Men” (Winner)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
“30 Rock” (Winner)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Paul Giamatti, “John Adams” (Winner)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Laura Linney, “John Adams” (Winner)

Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series
“Heroes” (Winner)

Oscar nominations announced; Heath Ledger nominated for Oscar exactly one year after death; prosecution rests in Phil Spector murder retrial.

Many kudos for the hugely deserving nomination for Ledger – he was the Dark Knight – and it’s a fitting tribute to his memory. Also, more kudos to the academy for recognizing Robert Downey Jr. for his brilliant comic role in Tropic Thunder. The accolades for Danny Boyle’s superb Slumdog Millionaire are great. On the down side, WALL-E was easily one of the best picture last year – and it gets shoved aside because it’s ‘only’ an animated film. Much like Ratatouille was in 2007, it may well be the best film of this year. And finally – the Reader for best picture? Where the hell did that come from. (The Full List Is Below).

On the first anniversary of his death, Heath Ledger received a huge tribute: The late actor is an Oscar nominee for best supporting actor for his role as The Joker in “The Dark Knight.” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” notched the most nominations with 13, including best picture, best director for David Fincher, best actor for Brad Pitt and a best supporting actress nod for Taraji Phenson. – From NY Daily News

Batman and Clint Eastwood? Forget about it. Instead, the far more serious Holocaust-themed The Reader slipped into the race for a best-picture Oscar and its director, Stephen Daldry, also managed to sneak into his category. The other nominees announced for top prize in the 81st Academy Awards Thursday morning in Los Angeles followed the script of the prognosticators: the era-spanning fable The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which led the crowd with 13 nominations; gay-themed political biopic Milk; TV-landmark drama Frost/Nixon; and romantic crowd-pleaser Slumdog Millionaire. – From USA Today

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” led all films with nominations for the 81st annual Academy Awards on Thursday morning, picking up 13. The film, about a man who ages in reverse, earned nods for best picture, best director (David Fincher), best actor (Brad Pitt), best supporting actress (Taraji P. Henson) and best adapted screenplay as well as several other picks. The record for Oscar nominations is 14, held by “All About Eve” and “Titanic.” Both films won best picture. – From CNN

Frost/Nixon:

Milk:

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button:

Slumdog Millionaire:

The Reader:

Performance by an actor in a leading role:
* Richard Jenkins in “The Visitor” (Overture Films)
* Frank Langella in “Frost/Nixon” (Universal)
* Sean Penn in “Milk” (Focus Features)
* Brad Pitt in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
* Mickey Rourke in “The Wrestler” (Fox Searchlight)

Performance by an actor in a supporting role:
* Josh Brolin in “Milk” (Focus Features)
* Robert Downey Jr. in “Tropic Thunder” (DreamWorks, Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount)
* Philip Seymour Hoffman in “Doubt” (Miramax)
* Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.)
* Michael Shannon in “Revolutionary Road” (DreamWorks, Distributed by Paramount Vantage)

Performance by an actress in a leading role:
* Anne Hathaway in “Rachel Getting Married” (Sony Pictures Classics)
* Angelina Jolie in “Changeling” (Universal)
* Melissa Leo in “Frozen River” (Sony Pictures Classics)
* Meryl Streep in “Doubt” (Miramax)
* Kate Winslet in “The Reader” (The Weinstein Company)

Performance by an actress in a supporting role

* Amy Adams in “Doubt” (Miramax)
* Penélope Cruz in “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” (The Weinstein Company)
* Viola Davis in “Doubt” (Miramax)
* Taraji P. Henson in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
* Marisa Tomei in “The Wrestler” (Fox Searchlight)

Best animated feature film of the year:
* “Bolt” (Walt Disney) Chris Williams and Byron Howard
* “Kung Fu Panda” (DreamWorks Animation, Distributed by Paramount) John Stevenson and Mark Osborne
* “WALL-E” (Walt Disney)

Achievement in directing:
* “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.) David Fincher
* “Frost/Nixon” (Universal) Ron Howard
* “Milk” (Focus Features) Gus Van Sant
* “The Reader” (The Weinstein Company) Stephen Daldry
* “Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight) Danny Boyle

Best documentary feature:
* “The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)” (Cinema Guild) A Pandinlao Films Production Ellen Kuras and Thavisouk Phrasavath
* “Encounters at the End of the World” (THINKFilm and Image Entertainment) A Creative Differences Production Werner Herzog and Henry Kaiser
* “The Garden” A Black Valley Films Production Scott Hamilton Kennedy
* “Man on Wire” (Magnolia Pictures) A Wall to Wall Production James Marsh and Simon Chinn
* “Trouble the Water” (Zeitgeist Films) An Elsewhere Films Production Tia Lessin and Carl Deal

Best foreign language film of the year:
* “The Baader Meinhof Complex” A Constantin Film Production – Germany
* “The Class” (Sony Pictures Classics) A Haut et Court Production – France
* “Departures” (Regent Releasing) A Departures Film Partners Production – Japan
* “Revanche” (Janus Films) A Prisma Film/Fernseh Production – Austria
* “Waltz with Bashir” (Sony Pictures Classics) A Bridgit Folman Film Gang Production – Israel

Best motion picture of the year:
* “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
A Kennedy/Marshall Production Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall and Ceán Chaffin, Producers
* “Frost/Nixon” (Universal)
A Universal Pictures, Imagine Entertainment and Working Title Production Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Eric Fellner, Producers
* “Milk” (Focus Features)
A Groundswell and Jinks/Cohen Company Production Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen, Producers
* “The Reader” (The Weinstein Company)
A Mirage Enterprises and Neunte Babelsberg Film GmbH Production Nominees to be determined
* “Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight)
A Celador Films Production Christian Colson, Producer

10. Sex and the City // $415.1 million // Warner Bros. (New Line)

I’m not the audience for this, passed on this one. Never watched the HBO series, I don’t care. PS. Sarah Jessica Parker is STILL a horseface, neigh!

9. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian // $419.6 million // Buenva Vista

Didn’t watch this either, but I do have the Blu-ray that needs to be reviewed. Odd that Disney ditched this property — pretty good earner for the Mouse House. I enjoyed Narnia…

8. WALL-E // $507.3 million // Buena Vista

Everyone loves WALL-E. Further proof that Pixar can make and sell anything — and we consumers will bite. Will that tradition continue with UP? The first hour of WALL-E is brilliant; once they arrive on the ship, I space out a bit (especially during the scene with fat people rolling and tipping over the ship…). I still prefer Ratatouille.

7. Quantum of Solace // $534.5 million // Sony

Bond always kicks ass at the Box Office. Daniel Craig rocks, but this Bond vehicle really didn’t stick with me. A good two hours in the theater, but kinda forgot about this movie as soon as I left. Casino Royale, which I prefer, made 594.1 million.

6. Mamma Mia! // $572.1 million // Universal

I watched this on Blu-ray with my wife, her mom and sister. Fuck me! Horrible movie, great music. This is the Traveling Pants of 2008. And crap, they’re talking about a sequel! Oddly enjoy, while watching Mamma Mia, I was expecting Stellan Skarsgard to murder someone (preferably Pierce Brosnan or Christine Baranski) — thus turning the movie into a singing murder mystery. As you can tell, I was really paying attention to the actual movie…

5. Iron Man // $581.9 million // Paramount

Of course I loved this movie, WTF!? Actually, on repeat Blu-ray viewing, Iron Man doesn’t hold up — but it really is all about Robert Downey Jr. — his performance, out of the Iron Man suit, as billionaire Tony Stark is what makes this movie, not CGI or action.

4. Hancock // $624.4 million // Sony

Looks like the Scientology folks can build a new “Hancock” wing. You know, Will Smith could poop in a wrapper, package it as candy for $6 bucks at Walmart — and it’d be a big seller. This movie sucks. People are idiots. Go buy Will Smith Poop Candy at Walmart instead of watching this.

3. Kung Fu Panda // $631.9 million // Paramount/DreamWorks

I hate DreamWorks animated movies with a passion. No seriously, all them. Fart jokes, sexual innuendos, shitty animation; DreamWorks hits like Shrek or Bee Movie are for people who buy Will Smith Poop Candy at Walmart. They don’t make classics, they make annoying CGI-turds du-jour. They’re the anti-Pixar. Well, DreamWorks has redeemed themselves. Finally, they made their classic (or as close to a classic as DreamWorks can make). Great animation, great message, wasn’t expecting to enjoy this. However, WALL-E was better.

2. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull // $786.6 million // Paramount

Quite possibly The Worst Movie of the Year?! No really, phoned in, zzz plot, tired acting; thanks George and Steven for continuing to rape our childhoods…. PS. Shia LaDouchebag’s 15 minutes are up.

1. The Dark Knight // $996.8 million // Warner Bros.

Christopher Nolan’s second Batman outing tops the lists for best reviewed and top earner, not a surprise. The success was all due to Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker. Finally, Heath has undone what Jack Nicholson’s Fat-Joker did 15 years ago. Ok, ok, let’s give Nolan some credit in taking the superhero genre and turning it into Michael Mann’s Heat. PS. Eddie Murphy will never be cast in a Nolan Batman movie. Never.

- A settlement is close in the Watchmen conflict between Fuckin’ Fox and WB.

- Heath’s Globe expected to go to daughter Matilda

- James Cameron talks Avatar and 3D

- Will Polanski Finally be able to return to America?

- On no, do we really need a reboot of the Smokey and the Bandit genre?

- Vanessa Hudgens: From ‘High School Musical’ to ‘New Moon’?

- Mickey Rourke Says He’ll ‘Bring It All’ To ‘Iron Man 2’

- And below, check out the Franklin Trailer with Ryan Phillippe, Eva Green and Sam Riley

Late Australian actor Heath Ledger won a posthumous Golden Globe award here Sunday for his performance as psychopathic villain The Joker in Batman blockbuster “The Dark Knight.” Batman director Christopher Nolan collected the best supporting actor award on behalf of Ledger, who died of an accidental overdose in January last year at the age of 28. “For any of us to enjoy his performance he will be eternally missed, but he’ll never be forgotten,” Nolan told guests at the Beverly Hilton hotel. – From ABS CBN News

Get a full list of this year’s Golden Globe winners.

Heath Ledger died January 22, 2008. Over the years I have interviewed him several times. Once for Brokeback Mountain and once for The Brothers Grimm. Over the years I have found Heath pleasant, interesting, and full of life. He has never liked the “interview process” but many movie stars do not. My last interview, however, was very different. It was for the movie I’m Not There. I must tell you that I have never seen him so unhinged and figity as he was for this interview. Many of the journalists who spoke to him also feel the same way…but we had not idea he would die within weeks. Here is the complete interview I had with him just weeks ago for his latest movie. I’m not posting this because it was a great interview, because it certainly wasn’t one of my best. I am posting it so people out there can get a better understanding of Heath’s state of mind just before he died. Rest in peace.

Heath Ledger’s no-holds-barred performance as the Joker in last summer’s Batman blockbuster The Dark Knight has earned the late actor a posthumous Golden Globe nomination, announced Thursday morning. Commenting on the honor of being nominated for best performance by an actor in a supporting role, Heath’s Perth, Australia-based father, Kim Ledger, said in a statement to PEOPLE, “We thank the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for honoring Heath’s performance in The Dark Knight.” – from People

Google’s users are intrinsically curious. Why else would you search? And, since we at Google are pretty curious ourselves, we wondered which of our users’ queries might be truly global and which may be unique to certain cultures. This is why, for the first time, our annual Year-End Zeitgeist features search data from more than 30 countries.

So, what do we in this global village have in common? Mainly a strong interest in socializing and politics. Social networks comprised four out of the top 10 global fastest-rising queries, while the U.S. election held everyone’s interest around the globe. Republican VP candidate, Sarah Palin, may have lost in the election, but she was the #1 fastest-rising query on our global list (Obama was #6). – from Google

As the year comes to a close, it’s time to look at the big events, memorable moments and emerging trends that captivated us in 2008. As it happens, studying the aggregation of the billions of search queries that people type into the Google search box gives us a glimpse into the zeitgeist — the spirit of the times. We’ve compiled some of the highlights from Google searches around the globe and hope you enjoy looking back as much as we do.

Fastest Rising (Global)

1. sarah palin
2. beijing 2008
3. facebook login
4. tuenti
5. heath ledger
6. obama
7. nasza klasa
8. wer kennt wen
9. euro 2008
10. jonas brothers

Google.com – Fastest Rising (U.S.)

1. obama
2. facebook
3. att
4. iphone
5. youtube
6. fox news
7. palin
8. beijing 2008
9. david cook
10. surf the channel

Movie Trailers*

1. dark knight
2. iron man
3. hulk
4. star wars
5. indiana jones
6. twilight
7. spiderman
8. superman
9. terminator
10. harry potter

With 2008 coming to an end, the data miners at Google, which performs more than 60 percent of searches worldwide, have compiled their Zeitgeist lists of the most popular search terms. These latest lists include these categories: U.S., top of mind, politics, trendsetters, showbiz, sports, and around the world.

In the category of fastest-rising global searches (comparing 2007 with 2008 searches), Sarah Palin comes in at No. 1 and President elect Barack Obama at No. 6, trailing “beijing 2008,” “facebook login,” Tuenti” (the equivalent of Facebook in Spain), and “Heath Ledger.” – from CNET

The top-level Zeitgeist lists are not too surprising (they never are). The most interesting trends reveal themselves only when you dive deeper. For instance, in terms of search popularity, we find that “facebook” beat out “myspace,” the “martini” beat out the “mojito,” and “ice cream” beat out “chili.” – from Techcrunch

Globally, the president-elect was beaten by his vanquished rival for the vice-presidency, Sarah Palin. The Governor of Alaska topped the the worldwide list of fastest rising queries. Mr Obama was only sixth in the list of top climbers, just behind the late Heath Ledger, who played the Joker in the latest Batman remake. He died in January after taking an overdose of prescription drugs. – from Here

But we all know the real most popular phrase was probably Sarah Palin Naked

But by modern standards, “The Dark Knight’s” DVD package and extras are—with apologies to the Joker—laughably thin.

A few of the features (especially “Batman Unmasked” on the Blu-ray version) appear to be repackaged TV pieces meant to promote the movie before its release.

Nevertheless, a few minutes of behind-the-scenes footage of the armored car chase on Lower Wacker Drive on the feature “Evolution of the Knight” will be of interest to Chicagoans. Shots of an outdoor dry run of the Batpod chase sequence stunts (possibly in rural England), including a test of the famous end-over-end flip of a semi, later duplicated on LaSalle Street, are worth watching.

But that’s about it. Other mildly interesting components include six larger-format IMAX scenes, and a featurette with composer Hans Zimmer talking about crafting the Joker’s musical cue.

- from Chicago Tribune

Plenty of fans shelled out to see The Dark Knight in theaters multiple times. They might wind up doing the same on home video, given how the studio is skimping with the extras on the initial DVD and Blu-ray releases. The Blu-ray also has a featurette on Batman’s gadgets and a psychological study of the conflicted hero. A single-disc DVD ($28.98) version comes with just the movie. – from Balt