'Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol' movie release

The fourth feature of the cinematic franchise adapted from the 1960s television series sees Tom Cruise return as Ethan Hunt, the American operative who carries out top-secret, deniable operations for the US government.

Date: Thursday, December 15, 2011
Directed by Brad Bird

Starring Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Paula Patton

The Impossible Mission Force is shut down when it is implicated in the bombing of the Kremlin, causing Ethan Hunt (Cruise) and his new team to go rogue and clear their organisation's name.

Watch Video :

http://youtu.be/ZhhxeJaoNCo

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'The Descendants' opens Moonlight Cinema - Melbourne

'The Descendants' will open the season of the Moonlight Cinema today in Perth. The film is already a front-runner for a number of Oscar nominations.

Venue:
Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne/Cranbourne, Private Bag 2000, Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra
Date: Thursday, December 15, 2011
Website: http://www.moonlight.com.au/
Directed by Alexander Payne

Starring George Clooney, Beau Bridges, Judy Greer, Robert Forster

The Descendants is a sometimes humorous, sometimes poignant journey for Matt King (George Clooney), an indifferent husband and father of two teenage girls, who is forced to re-examine his past and embrace his future when his wife suffers a boating accident off of Waikiki. The event leads to a rapprochement with his daughters while Matt wrestles with a decision to sell the family's land handed down from Hawaiian royalty.

The Descendants will open the season of the Moonlight Cinema in Melbourne. The Moonlight Cinema will run from the 15th of December to the 17th of February. For the full program please check the website.

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'Melancholia' movie release

This brand new film from controversial director Lars von Trier surrounds two sisters who find their already strained relationship challenged as a mysterious new planet threatens to collide into the Earth.

Date: Thursday, December 15, 2011
Directed by Lars von Trier

Starring Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Alexander Skarsgard and Kiefer Sutherland

Melancholia is an apocalyptic drama that revolves around two sisters during and shortly after the wedding party of one of them, while Earth is about to collide with an approaching rogue planet.

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Opeth tour - Brisbane

Swedish heavy metal pioneers Opeth will return to sunny Australia this month for a national tour in support of the release of their tenth studio album, 'Heritage'.

Venue:
The Tivoli, 52 Costin Street, Fortitude Valley Bc
Date: Thursday, December 15, 2011
Website: http://www.opeth.com/
With more than 20 years and 10 albums under their collective belt, Opeth's legion of fans has grown as much as their kaleidoscopic sound has broadened. Since forming back in 1990 in Stockholm, Opeth have established themselves as pioneers of the progressive death metal/rock genre, blending folk, blues, jazz and metal influences with dynamic growling and clean vocals.

Throughout their career, Opeth have sold out concerts around the world and toured with the likes of Cradle of Filth, Megadeth and Baroness and now, the band has just released their highly-anticipated tenth studio album, Heritage, their first studio album in three years. Produced by Jens Bogren (Katatonia, Soilwork), Heritage takes a step back from Opeth's traditional style by removing all death growls from the songs - making it reminiscent of their seventh album, Damnation.

For the first time in two years, Opeth will return to Australia this month for a brief national tour - a perfect Christmas present for fans. The band will perform at The Tivoli in Brisbane on Thursday, December 15; The Enmore in Sydney on Friday, December 16; The Palace in Melbourne on Sunday, December 18 and Metropolis in Perth on Tuesday, December 20.

Click here for the full media release.

'Of Flesh' exhibition opens - Sydney

Renowned artist Eugene D'Souza new exhibition 'Of Flesh' opens in Sydney today. The exhibition is a selection of quirky compositions of psychic landscapes with curious intensity. A space where embryonic fish collide with ominous beetles.

Venue:
Gaffa Gallery, 281 Clarence Street, Sydney
Date: Thursday, December 15, 2011 to Thursday, December 22, 2011
Website: http://www.gaffa.com.au/
Informed by the convergence of his parallel careers in medicine, psychiatry and art, his work echoes of medical illustration and straight-up surrealism to create an absurd and thoroughly compelling theatre of pathos and strange beauty.

Of Flesh will be showing at Gaffa Gallery from December 15th - 22.

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Grand Theft Auto III 10 Year Anniversary edition released

Grand Theft Auto III will be releasing its 10 Year Anniversary Edition and will be available for select new generation iOS and Android devices on the App Store and Android Marketplace today.

Date: Thursday, December 15, 2011
Website: http://www.rockstargames.com/
The game will retail for US$4.99 and will be available on iPad 1 & 2, iPhone 4 & 4S, iPod touch 4th Generation and a wide range of Android Phones and Android Tablets.

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Bomb hoax accused faces court - Sydney

The man accused of strapping a fake bomb to the neck of Sydney teenager Madeleine Pulver in Mosman on August 3 will face Central Local Court today as the case continues.

Venue:
Sydney Central Local Court, 98 Liverpool Street, Sydney
Date: Thursday, December 15, 2011
51-year-old Paul Douglas Peters (pictured) is charged with breaking into the family home of Sydney teenager Madeleine Pulver in Mosman on August 3 and attaching a 'bomb-like' device around her neck. The father-of-three had no direct links to the Pulver family, despite living in a home nearby their Central Coast holiday house, and was arrested in Kentucky in the United States over ten days after the 18-year old's 10-hour ordeal.

He was extradited to Australia and faced Central Local Court in Sydney on Thursday, November 11 where he was formally refused bail. All evidence served by Peters' counsel will be served by December 12 and the matter will return to court today.

Giddy & Crittenden Solicitors act as Peters' lawyers.

'The Women on the 6th Floor' movie release

A French comedy set in 1960s Paris as a conservative, upper-middle class household is rocked by the arrival of a Spanish housemaid.

Date: Thursday, December 15, 2011
Directed by Philippe Le Guay

Starring Fabrice Luchini, Sandrine Kiberlain, Carmen Maura

This French comedy surrounds an upper-middle class household who is rocked when the family's maid abandons them, forcing new resident Maria (Natalia Verbeke) (young, hardworking and - quelle horreur - Spanish!) to move in.

Remarkably, it doesn't take long for the building to become enchanted by the new arrival.

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Formula SAE electric car championship - Melbourne

Formula SAE electric car championship - Melbourne

The Society of Automotive Engineers Australasia will host the world championship 'formula one' for alternative energy-fuelled cars beginning in Melbourne today, with teams from all over Australia the world entering racers powered by electricity, ethanol and solar energy.

Venue:
Victoria University Footscray Park, Ballarat Road, Footscray
Date: Thursday, December 15, 2011 to Sunday, December 18, 2011
Website: www.saea.com.au/formula-sae-a
Formula-SAE is the world's biggest engineering competition, formatted to allow students to design and compete on the international stage with a Formula 1-style car built from scratch. The Formula SAE Championships offer engineering students all over the world the chance to design, manufacture and race an open-wheel race car. The team is run and managed by students, with two academic supervisors.

As in 2010, entries will be accepted for vehicles in the following categories: PULP fuel (RON 98), Ethanol E85 fuel and electrical vehicles.

69th Golden Globe nominations announced - Music News Australia

The nominations for the second biggest Hollywood awards ceremony will be announced today.

Venue:
USA, ,
Date: Thursday, December 15, 2011
Website: http://www.goldenglobes.org/
The Golden Globe Awards recognize both domestic and foreign achievement in the entertainment industry, focusing attention on the best motion pictures and television shows in the world.

Hosted by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, these annual awards have been won by actors such as Tom Hanks, Jack Nicholson, Nicole Kidman, Julia Roberts, Leonard DiCaprio, Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Sharon Stone, Hilary Swank, Jim Carrey, Denzel Washington, Nicholas Cage, Al Pacino and Nick Nolte among a string of others.

Some of the feature films tipped to pick up some nominations this year include The Descendants, War Horse, Moneyball, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and J. Edgar. George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Gary Oldman, Meryl Streep, Michelle Williams, Tilda Swinton, Kirsten Dunst and Rooney Mara are also tipped to receive nominations.

'J. Edgar' movie release - Music News Australia

'J. Edgar' movie release

Clint Eastwood's biopic of the polarising and secretive figure who headed up America's FBI for almost 50 years, played by Leonardo Di Caprio.

Date: Thursday, January 19, 2012
Website: http://www.village.com.au/
Directed by Clint Eastwood

Starring Leonardo di Caprio, Naomi Watts, Josh Lucas

As the face of law enforcement in America for almost 50 years, J. Edgar Hoover was feared and admired, reviled and revered. But behind closed doors, he held secrets that would have destroyed his image, his career and his life.

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'A Dolphin Tale' 3D movie release

Based on a true story this film tells the story of an injured dolphin who is rescued by an aquarium and eventually given the ability to swim again with the aid of a prosthetic fin.

Date: Thursday, December 15, 2011
Website: http://www.dolphintalemovie.com.au/
Directed by Charles Martin Smith

Starring Morgan Freeman, Harry Connick Jr, Ashley Judd

Based on true events Dolphin Tale is a family film about Winter, a young dolphin who loses her tail in a crab trap and Sawyer, the introverted, 11-year old boy who befriends her. Sawyer meets the rescued dolphin at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, a marine rehabilitation center where she lives. Sawyer rallies friends and family alike to save Winter by convincing a pioneering doctor to create a unique prosthetic attachment to restore the dolphin's ability to swim. Winter the dolphin will play herself in the movie.

Para-cycling and Madison National Championships - Melbourne

The three day track carnival is a key lead up event for the 2012 UCI Track World Championships being staged in Melbourne next April and for the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Venue:
Darebin International Sports Centre, 281 Darebin Road , Thornbury
Date: Thursday, December 15, 2011 to Saturday, December 17, 2011
Website: http://www.cycling.org.au/
The Para-cycling competition will be fierce as Australia's Paralympic Games hopefuls fine-tune their preparation for the Para-cycling track world championships being staged in Los Angeles in February.

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Australian Open 2012 begins - Melbourne - Music News Australia

The first of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments of the year, the Australian Open will see some of the world's best professional tennis players converge on Melbourne to take home a slice of over $23 million in prize money.

Venue:
Rod Laver Arena, , Melbourne
Date: Monday, January 16, 2012 to Sunday, January 29, 2012
Website: http://www.australianopen.com/
First held in 1905, the Australian Open is the first of the four annual Grand Slam tennis tournaments, followed by the French Open, US Open and Wimbledon. The prestigious tennis competition offers men's and women's singles tournaments; men's, women's and mixed doubles; junior, wheelchair, exhibition and legend's competitions.

More than 650,000 people flock to the Australian Open each year in Melbourne to catch a glimpse of the world's best players, and to see them in action on the court. Players taking part in this year's tournament include Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Lleyton Hewitt, Andy Murray, Sam Stosur, Kim Clijsters, Caroline Wozniacki, Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Petra Kvitova and Li Na.

Off court, a number of leading musical artists will put on a show for tennis fans, including Eskimo Joe, The Potbelleez, Bluejuice, Josh Pyke, Tim Freedman & The Half Idle, Jimmy Barnes, Washington, TV Rock and Daryl Braithwaite among others.

Who's coming:
Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Sam Stosur, Lleyton Hewitt, Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Andy Murray and more

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Sydney Festival begins - Music News Australia

Sydney Festival is the New South Wales capital's most popular and prestigious annual cultural event. Over the years, the festival has welcomed thousands of performers, celebrities and professional experts who have performed to more than 250,000 people each year at venues across the city.

The 2012 edition of Sydney Festival looks toward the horizon with a truly global summertime celebration of our shared humanity, of Australian innovation and of two dynamic communities with the potential to shape our city's future cultural identity: Sydney's second CBD, Parramatta, and Redfern - Australia's 'black capital'.

This year's festival will celebrate Sydney's unique history and potential with Black Capital, a series of performances, seminars and exhibitions reflecting the city's diverse contemporary Indigenous culture in Carriageworks in the heart of Redfern. The festival will also visit Riverside Theatres and the Idolize Spiegeltent in Prince Alfred Park in Parramatta.

The 2012 Sydney Festival will welcome an array of prestigious guests, including the creator and host of This American Life, Ira Glass; Faith No More frontman and eclectic musician Mike Patton; songstress and icon PJ Harvey; singer-songwriter Beth Orton; legendary theatre director Declan Donnellan; choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and the National Theatre of Scotland.

Overall, this year's festival offers 11 world premieres, 15 Australian exclusives and 14 Australian premieres, presenting more than 1,500 artists from around the globe.

Opening night at the Domain Stage will feature the quietly enigmatic Gurrumul Yunupingu, followed by the gorgeously idiosyncratic Washington and rounded off with the international music globetrotter, Manu Chao, in his first Australian performance.

Who's coming:
Ira Glass, PJ Harvey, Mike Patton, Beth Orton, Declan Donnellan and more

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Real Santa Claus Climbs Sydney Harbour Bridge; Nine News Hits The Ho Ho Ho Target

For the first time ever the real Santa Claus visited Australia before Christmas Eve!

Santa parked his sleigh and reindeer at Sydney’s Kingsford Smith Airport yesterday, and this morning he took the world famous BridgeClimb walk over the Sydney Harbour Bridge, with a few very lucky media joining in the fun.

Upon reaching the summit of the climb the Channel Nine News helicopter showed up, catching the world exclusive.

Santa broke into song and did his customary Ho Ho Ho's which were heard far and wide.

Santa is spreading the Christmas spirit and making sure all good kids of all ages get some presents, by teaming up with Target and UnitingCare’s Operation Santa Christmas Appeal. It's the 20th Anniversary of the appeal and the need was more than ever before Santa tipped.

A Sydney based media agent who enjoyed the trip with Santa and the other lucky bridge climbers whispered to other media attending "This is one of the better community initiatives I've seen from corporate Australia teaming up with a charity in quite some time. Top marks to Target, UnitingCare, BridgeClimb, Splash News & Photos, and Channel Nine for getting the exclusive. It's great to see such generosity of heart and spirit at a time in Australia which its so badly needed. I hope other community based organisations and corporates follow the lead".

Now parents (and children) who are not sure whether to believe in the real Santa Claus, you might want to skip this part of the news, as it contains some top secret Santa information...

Every year in Gällivare, Lapland, Sweden, the official international ‘Santa Claus of the Year’ is chosen by an ‘Order of Santa’s’ during the Santa Winter Games. Fourteen Santa’s including their personal assistants from countries such as Holland, Colombia, France, Japan and Germany compete for this coveted title. (Qualifying rounds are held in each country).

The 2011 winner, Stefan Veroude from Holland was anointed by the ‘Order of Santas’ and is officially Santa Clause for the following year.

Stefan is a consummate musical performer and has sung with the likes of Andre Rieu.

Santa Claus says this will be the first time he has ever seen Australia in daylight. "I am going to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge, visit some children in hospital and play with some kangaroos and koalas.  Surfing on Bondi may be a little too adventurous. I am a little busy at this time of year".

"We are so excited to host Santa Claus when he visits Australia," said Dene Rogers, Managing Director of Target. "When it comes to international celebrities, there really is no one bigger at this time of year".

"Christmas is the season for giving. Santa Claus would love all Australians to support the Operation Santa Christmas Appeal. In partnership with UnitingCare, and now in its 20th year, together we  have distributed 1.7 million gifts to disadvantaged people in local communities.  Donate a gift at Target and show Santa we all care".

WHERE TO SEE SANTA CLAUS:

Thursday 15 December - Sydney

Bridge Climb - 7.00am - 9.00am

Target Chatswood 10.00am - 11.00am

Target Castle Hill 12.00pm - 1.00pm

Target Eastgardens 2.30pm - 3.30pm

Target Miranda - 5.00pm - 6.00

Friday 16 December - Melbourne

Royal Hospital for Children - 9.00am - 10.00am (TBC)

Target Melbourne - 10.30am - 11.30am

Target Highpoint - 1.00pm - 2.00pm

Target Geelong - 5.00pm - 6.00pm

Lastly, a special thanks to the good folks at BridgeClimb, Target Australia, Drew at AC Agency, and you Santa, for making today possible. Merry Christmas everyone.

Websites

BridgeClimb

www.bridgeclimb.com

Target Australia

www.target.com.au

AC Agency

www.acagency.com.au

UnitingCare

www.unitingcare.org.au

Channel Nine News

www.news.ninemsn.com.au

Music News Australia

www.musicnewsaustralia.com

Eva Rinaldi Photography

www.evarinaldi.com

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr

www.flickr.com/evarinaldiphotography

Splash News

www.splashnews.com

full CIRCLE back to QLD, Byron, and NZ on the horizon

With just three shows left before the year comes to a mad halt, it's all about to get a lot hotter up North, with The Red Eyes taking their brand new single CIRCLES to Coolum (with Oka & Bobby Alu) and Byron this weekend. Its then time to get back to QLD to Woodford Folk Festival on 30 & 31 Dec to celebrate the eve of their 10th birthday...

In such exciting times we’d like to shout out to Father Xmas to please bring no monsoon to Woodford this year (as well as peace and prosperity for everywhere else).

Circles Tour coming round...

++ Coolum Civic Centre - Fri 16 Dec (+ Oka, Bobby Alu): www.lighthouseparty.com.au www.cooltown.com.au

++ Beach Hotel - Sun 18 Dec: www.beachhotel.com.au

++ NYE with The Red Eyes at Woodford Folk Festival, The Grande Stage - Fri 30 & Sat 31 Dec: www.woodfordfolkfestival.com

NZ 'Homecoming' Tour Jan/Feb 2012

Queenstown, Wellington, New Plymouth, Auckland + more

Jan 26 - Feb 5 2012

Tour details soon to be announced we promise, as we tweak a few finer details! Join our Facebook event here for up to date info on The Red Eyes 1st NZ tour, + subscribe to win FREE tickets! (a double pass to each show up for grabs so write on the event page to go in the draw!)

Heading over the ditch for the first time, The Red Eyes NZ 'Homecoming' Tour is a return to their roots for singer El Witeri and guitarist/producer King Charlie, and the rest of the guys just really want to hang out at waterfalls, play to awesome NZ audiences and drive up and down the countryside in a tour van.

Kicking off in Queenstown on Thu 26 Jan, with shows in Wellington, at the inaugural Winchfest in New Plymouth, in Auckland and more, this is your chance to see The Red Eyes do what they do best all over New Zealand for an audience that is sure to fall in love with their unique blend of dub/reggae if they haven’t already seen them in Oz, Vanuatu or New Caledonia!

Full tour dates soon to be announced. Coming soon to a place in NZ near YOU!! Don’t forget to join the FB event here.

www.theredeyes.com.au for more info

new single CIRCLES out now on iTunes

Websites

The Red Eyes

www.thered-eyes.com

Woodford Folk Festival

www.woodfordfolkfestival.com

Music News Australia

www.musicnewsaustralia.com

Media Man News

www.mediamannews.com