A poster for the classic German science-fiction film Metropolis, which holds the record for world’s most expensive film poster, is to be sold at auction again after its owner filed for bankruptcy recently.

The poster was painted by German artist Heinz Schulz-Neudamm to promote the release of Fritz Lang’s 1927 film about a futuristic urban dystopia, and is one of only four known remaining copies.

The poster was bought by collector Kenneth Schacter for a record $690,000 in 2005, according to The Guardian.

In his bankruptcy filing, Schacter stated the poster was worth $250,000, but it was put on the market for sale in March for $850,000, and experts claim it could become the first poster to sell for more than $1 million.

Poster dealer Sean Linkenback has called it “the crown jewel of the poster world”.

Schacter’s poster collection is reportedly worth up to $5 million and also includes a 1933 King Kong poster, which experts believe is close in value to the Metropolis poster, and a 1933 The Invisible Man poster.

All three posters are in the possession of Schacter’s bankruptcy trustee, who plans to organise a liquidation auction of Schacter’s entire collection once it has been fully itemised.

So you’ve just recovered from another New Year’s celebration, after partying with your friends, family, and loved ones, consuming insane amounts of alcohol, and not getting arrested or ending up in the hospital. Congratulations! But what did you forget? Didn’t make any resolutions for the year? Shame on you. Isn’t that what part of ringing in a New Year is all about?

But if you are legitimately having problems imagining how to improve yourself this year, we do have some suggestions for you.

Stop Pirating for a Minute and Go Out to a Movie

For those who believe there is no difference between watching a movie on their iPhone or going to a movie theater – shame on you. The communal aspect of seeing a movie on the big screen, and simply experience a picture and sound clarity that you could never afford in your home, are real treasures that will soon be endangered if we all don’t do something about it. Movie attendance (in the US) was the lowest it’s been since 1995… don’t you think you owe it to this good old tradition to buy a couple of tickets once and a while?

Leave the Bacon Craze Behind

A couple of years ago, bacon became GOOD again. Yes it’s fatty, but it is also delicious, and the smoky aroma is a real turn on for many a nose. So – OK – we were fine with seeing more bacon in our food (especially on our favorite burgers), watching countless celebrity chefs praise its flavors, and trying the occasional oddball beverage with its essence mixed in. But bacon mints? Moisturizer? Soap? Air fresheners and candles? Dental floss? Please stop all of this bacon stuff! We’ve had enough!

Take a Gamble with your Beer Money

This will help you lose some weight AND give you a chance to make some money. Look back and calculate how much beer you drank last year, look at how much weight you gained last year and look at how much healthier and richer you can be this year just by cutting down.  The money you save? Depending on how much it is, invest it in some stocks and do some e-trading, or even make a quick buck on an online gambling site. Too volatile, you think? Well it’s money you would have put around your waist anyway, which is, in our opinion, the biggest waste of all.

Look at Products Not Made by Apple

This one will be hard. But years ago, people relished in having choice. These days, everyone seems to go ‘all-in’ in with Apple regarding all of their tech purchases. Not a good idea. While many of the computers and phones are indeed beautiful, a lot of their accessories are actually pretty terrible, and buyers can find better (and yes, just as pretty) options for much cheaper. And please, don’t be that person who takes those free Apple stickers and puts them on their refrigerator, television or some other non-apple product, hoping to make those items ‘cooler’. That’s just weird.

Learn About Scams

It’s 2012, and there are still people around the world falling prey to Internet scams.  These are the same people who would probably turn away a real prince or princess from their doorstep for looking too ‘foreign’. But when they get a faceless email from some deposed royalty from a non-existent country asking for thousands of dollars and the promise of millions in return, they can’t wait to hand over their savings. Why is this still happening? Please do the world a favor and tell everyone you know – especially older folk who don’t know about all the crazy people on the Internet – to watch out for these things.

What other resolutions are you going to make this year? Let us know in the comments!

We read an article on Cracked.com a little while ago, titled “I can’t tell if movies are being serious anymore” and we agree with it wholeheartedly. Watching really bad movies, or even passive movie watching has become widespread, because – let’s face it – we’re bombarded with so much media every day that we end up simply blindly consuming instead of being selective, engaging with one film and enjoying it to its fullest.

So do yourself a favor and carve out a time to watch a single movie and nothing else that day, and relive the time when you had only a handful of television channels and watching video on the Internet was just a crazy dream of some nerdy programmer (and now millionaire). And if you watch the following films, you may recall what made watching movies so special to begin with.

Amadeus
Yes, we can argue that music is an essential part of moviemaking all day long, but only a handful have integrated music as well as Milos Forman’s ‘Amadeus’.  This retelling of the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart takes a lot of liberties with the actual history, but few movies blend passion, rivalry, love and music so beautifully.  The final scene alone is worth watching the movie over and over, as it breaks down Mozart’s work in a way we hadn’t seen before and probably won’t ever see again. IMDb

Eat Drink Man Woman
There are movies that feature food, and there are movies that turn food into a character that is as evocative as the actors you see on screen.  ‘Eat Drink Man Woman’ – one of Ang Lee’s early works – is among the second kind, and the first scene alone will make you want to call down to the local Chinese restaurant and order some take-away. The story, about an aging master chef and his three daughters, is indeed charming but unless you’re a cannibal it is the food (and the smells and taste that you imagine as you watch it) that will be etched in your mind forever. IMDb

Polyester
This John Waters’ film may not be as well known as ‘Hairspray’, but will go down in the books as one of the few movies that used scratch and sniff Smell-o-Vision technology (basically a cardboard card that viewers would be prompted to sniff during the film).  Dubbing it ‘Odorama’, Waters both made fun of the concept but also used it to great effect – not only did he include typical smells like flowers, but also added gasoline, pizza and feces to the mix. IMDb

Avatar
3D has come and gone, is back again and will probably go away again, but film historians would be making a huge oversight if they left ‘AVATAR’ out of a list like this.  James Cameron not only invented proprietary cameras to shoot with, but also painstakingly crafted a film that was at once entertaining, heartfelt and thoughtful.  The use of visual effects is truly a milestone, CGI and reality blend together seamlessly, and the 3D feels less like a gimmick and more like a way to truly immerse yourself in the experience. IMDb

What other films can you think of that stirs up your senses? Let us know in the comments!

With 3D coming back from the dead in a big way this past year, it’s only appropriate to look back at film history and appreciate how the last century (that’s right, film has only been around for 100 years for those who grew up with DVR and YouTube) has produced some significant achievements.

From physical technology to visual language to the marriage of entertainment with intellectual ideas, a lot of stuff went down, and we celebrate them all here in a nutshell.

AVATAR (2010)

Yes, this is an obvious choice, but it is notable not just for employing a revamped way of doing 3D, but also introduced brand new technology.  James Cameron and his company of mad scientists conceived and entire new camera system called the Fusion in order to achieve the visuals for their new classic. While many studios are trying to add 3D to 2D movies, this is the only camera that will do it natively and is expected to be used more widely soon (and by better films than Resident Evil: Afterlife).

SUPER SIZE ME (2004)

Yes, Michael Moore has been making thought-provoking documentaries since Roger and Me, the Maysles documented Grey Gardens before HBO cast Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange in a fictional adaptation.  But Morgan Spurlock’s film represents the little guy – the promise that anyone with the commitment, nerve and a couple of video cameras can shape an idea into an entertaining and biting documentary.  Without it, there may not have been attention paid to important films like The Cove.

NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (1984)

This Wes Craven classic truly spawned decades of horror / slasher films, countless sequels, remakes and rip-offs that all recently culminated in the successful SAW series. The original Elm Street and Friday the 13^th and Halloween all set up the ‘rules’ so well pointed out in Scream (again, Wes Craven) that continue to scare the life out of us, or at least those of us brave enough to go into a dark theater.

STAR WARS (1977)

As much as you love the next advancement in special effects, you cannot deny that the film industry hit a peak with George Lucas’ unforgettable space war epic.  None of this stuff was created in computers back then, and he fused old filmmaking tricks with innovative new ones. But you can also argue he squandered all that inspiration away with his prequels. See it again on DVD, or wait for the upcoming 3D theatrical re-release we just got wind of.

SEVEN SAMURAI (1953)

Prior to this classic film by Akira Kurosawa, there were no films about a band of misfits who get together to save a group of people in need – since then, every film from The Magnificent Seven to A Bug’s Life have used this template.  This is also one of the few three-hour-plus film where virtually every frame is exciting to see.  If you see it now, you have to get the fully restored Criterion Collection edition to see it the way it was meant to be seen.

CITIZEN KANE (1941)

These days, what visionary actor and director Orson Wells and cinematographer Gregg Toland must have gone through to achieve this groundbreaking film would be well documented on video and supplied in the extras section of the DVD.  But alas back then, they didn’t have such technology so we can only imagine the thought and effort they put in to create all of the breathtaking visuals that still impress budding filmmakers and longstanding film theorists.

BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN (1925)

Again, you know a great film when it is quoted in others – this historically significant film from 1920’s Russia has been paid homage in scenes from The Untouchables (the train station shootout) to The Godfather.  Director Sergei Eisenstein is pretty much credited with coming up with the theory of ‘montage’ and makes full use of it in this groundbreaking cinematic experience.

But ultimately, every film has added something to the tapestry – we can easily name another three or four-dozen that can be argued to be a game changing film.  How about you?  Which films do you think changed moviemaking for better or worse? Feel free to tell us!

Movie stars sure live the life – and come to think of it even their fictional counterparts do as well.  It’s especially obvious in the places where characters live, as apartments and houses in movies are always just much bigger than they are in reality, of better quality and somehow more affordable.

But while the discrepancy between make-believe and real-life may be clear when it comes to apartments, hotels and resorts on the other hand seem to get a fair shake.

The grandest hotels in the world that have provided the backdrop in many films have the potential to fulfill or even exceed your expectations. Here are our top movie hotels, places you should definitely stay at and live out your cinematic fantasy.

The Movie: LOST IN TRANSLATION
The Hotel: THE PARK HYATT, TOKYO

This high-rise hotel in Tokyo’s famed Shinjuku district was made famous for its bar, lounge singer, and unrequited romance between Bill Murray and Scarlett Johanssen. The suite that’s in the movie costs USD $12,000 a night, but everything you see in the movie from the atmosphere to the skyline and the cocktails are as authentic as can be – it’s a simply breathtaking space.

www.tokyo.park.hyatt.com

The Movie: CROCODILE DUNDEE
The Hotel: THE PLAZA, NEW YORK CITY

Recently renovated, The Plaza is still one of the most recognizable hotels in New York City, and a bastion of elegance and romance.  While you can’t walk around with a big machete anymore like Mick Dundee, the customer service in this hotel is still top notch, and rooms are as opulent as ever.  Spend $3,500 a night for a two-bedroom suite, or just buy your own condo starting in the millions.

www.theplaza.com

The Movie: VARIOUS (The Interpreter, Léon: The Professional, Nine ½ Weeks and others)
The Hotel: HOTEL CHELSEA

To see the other side of New York City, the Hotel Chelsea is it.  This has always been the spot for darker tales, ghost stories and reminiscing about the seediness that is sadly disappearing. A one-bedroom suite starts in the low $500’s, and this historic building also accommodates long-term tenants.

www.hotelchelsea.com

The Movie: PRETTY WOMAN (Runner up – BEVERLY HILLS COP)
The Hotel: BEVERLY WILSHIRE, LOS ANGELES

While the suite that Richard Gere and Julia Roberts stayed in was a set, and only exteriors were shot here, this is just one of those locations that everyone wants to see.  In reality, this five-star hotel offers $1,500 ‘Rodeo Suites’ (meaning facing the shopping district, no mechanical bulls here), an incredible location and plenty of opportunities for star sightings.

www.fourseasons.com/beverlywilshire/

The Movie: VARIOUS (Goldfinger, Scarface, The Bodyguard and others)
The Hotel: FONTAINEBLEAU, MIAMI

Whether you are a James Bond fan or a Scarface freak, you will immediately recognize this hotel and its remarkable pool area.  Even in an area like Miami Beach where there seem to be countless attention-grabbing destinations, this classic hotel is still a standout. A signature suite starts around $1000 but you can find affordable rooms for a couple of hundred as well.

www.fontainebleau.com

The Movie: THE SHINING
The Hotel: TIMBERLINE LODGE (Oregon) and THE STANLEY HOTEL (Colorado)

Neither of these two hotels actually are used in the movie for their interiors, but are significant nonetheless. The exterior of the Timberline Lodge is Stanley Kubrick’s vision of Stephen King’s novel, while a stay at The Stanley Hotel inspired King’s story.  Both are a ghost hunter’s fantasy and even their larger rooms can be reserved for about $300.00 a night.

www.timberlinelodge.com / www.stanleyhotel.com

The Movie: EVERY DISNEY MOVIE
The Hotel: DISNEY WORLD RESORT, ORLANDO

Every time you see a Disney or Pixar movie, you inevitably see a shot of the renowned Cinderella Castle.  This is no fantasy – you can actually visit this thing and stay in a variety of resorts that feature their own personality and settings.  This place is so large and complex there is no way to even begin describing it – but children, parents and Disney buffs never seem to complain.

disneyworld.disney.go.com/

The Movie: FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL
The Hotel: TURTLE BAY RESORT, HAWAII

Whether you loved the movie or not, the centerpiece of the film was clearly the azure waters, spacious cabanas and incredible grounds of the Turtle Bay Resort. This is the only resort on the famed North Shore of Oahu and offers a ridiculous array of amenities. You can channel your inner Russell Brand in peace here for about $1,500 a night.

www.turtlebayresort.com

The Movie: CITY SLICKERS
The Hotel: GHOST RANCH, NEW MEXICO

Sometimes a great outdoors experience reminds you how much you love nature – or how much you would rather stay at a five star resort.  While what makes this area so special is the nature, the views and the privacy are spectacular. For a couple of hundred a night you can stay in charming accommodations – and don’t worry, the tour guides are quite normal.

www.ghostranch.org

The Movie: OCEANS 11, 12 AND 13
The Hotel: THE BELLAGIO, LAS VEGAS

There’s Las Vegas, and then there’s LAS VEGAS.  The Bellagio is the ALL CAPS version, providing only the best of what this resort city has to offer, Five-star meals, gambling, entertainment, it’s all here.  And like anywhere else in Vegas you can find a great deal or take out a Penthouse Suite starting at $750. Perhaps all 11, 12 or 13 of you can split the tab.

www.bellagio.com

What are your favorite movie hotels?