Isaac Asimov, Rome [via]

Lord of the Rings [via]

“The Artist is a film about an actor who can’t use his voice in film — and Puss in Boots is an animated film that uses only famous performers’ voices (Antonio Banderas, Selma Hayek, Zach Galifianakis, Billy Bob Thorton, Amy Sedaris),” Franco writes. “Animation has been a part of film history almost since its inception, and animation with sound started at almost the same time as live-action talkies, Snow White being one of the first feature-length animated sound films in 1937. But it wasn’t until Aladdin (1992) and then Toy Story (1995) that recognizable actors started voicing animated characters with regularity. The personalities of the performers is now a huge part of the animation process, and as computer-generated technology advances, the images will only begin to look more lifelike. Pretty soon — in fact it’s already happening, just look at Tintin — it won’t just be the voices that actors provide for CG animators; it will be all the aspects of a performance.”

We’re curious: What do you think will happen to every actor who’s not Andy Serkis as technology continues to advance?

Holden Caulfield and Jay Gatsby

While many comparisons come to mind for Holden (Hamlet and Seymour Glass being two of these, though each is overly generous to that snotty, sighing teenager), we think Gatsby fits like a well-crafted glove. Holden is American literature’s archetype for teenage angst and refusal to grow up, and Gatsby — a man building his world around a childhood dream — seems a natural extension. Though Holden came from as rich a family as Daisy could have hoped for and Gatsby was forced to make his money himself, we would also find it evilly satisfying (and, let’s face it, realistic) if Holden grew up to be to a man as phony as Gatsby.

Dothraki, A Game of Thrones

Though there is no word for “book” in the language of the nomadic Dothraki warriors, there are, of course, more than fourteen different words for “horse.” Or so has decreed David J. Peterson, the 30-year-old who expanded on the snippets of Dothraki in George R.R. Martin’s acclaimed fantasy series to create a full, speakable language for HBO’s adaptation. To do this, he first ruled out words that wouldn’t exist (not only “book” but “toilet” missed the cut — yikes), then formed “native and basic” words before building the grammar rules, starting with the “18 noun classes in Swahili and the negative verb forms in Estonian… He [then] scribbled sample sentences and added suffixes and prefixes to expand the vocabulary.” Eventually, Peterson hopes to grow the language to at least 10,000 words, which will definitely please the already-blossoming group of fans who’d like to be able to communicate with their favorite horse-lord. If you’re one of them, go here to begin your studies.

Essential Phrase: “Vezh fin saja rhaesheseres vo zigereo adoroon shiqethi!”

Translation: “The stallion that mounts the earth has no need for iron chairs!”

2. “I’m sure it wouldn’t have happened if I were a man. What other people think of me is none of my business but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt my feelings… My mood changes about it depending on the day. In general, you don’t want anyone to say anything bad about you.” – Lana Del Rey discusses her detractors

3. Wu-Tang’s RZA — who scored both Kill Bill films for Quentin Tarantino — is the latest actor to join the cast of his anti-slavery spaghetti Western, Django Unchained. At this point, the star-studded ensemble already includes Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington, Leonardo DiCaprio, Don Johnson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Anthony LaPaglia, Misty Upham, Gerald McRaney, and M.C. Gainey. [via Variety]

4. The Peter Jackson-directed second Tintin film will not be based on Prisoners Of The Sun, as was previously rumored. Instead, that book may be the plot of Tintin 3, leaving the storyline for the sequel still up for discussion. [via Slashfilm]

5. The world premiere of Edward Albee’s new play Laying an Egg — which was set to makes its Off-Broadway debut in February — has been indefinitely postponed. Explains artistic director James Houghton: “All good things are well worth the wait, and most certainly a new play from one of our most treasured playwrights is no exception.” [via Guardian]

Bonus Buzz: Zach Galifianakis Stand Up From 1999

Becky Sharp and Jay Gatsby

It goes without saying that the ambitious, calculating Becky Sharp would go for the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby in a heartbeat — all she would have to do would be to attend one of his glamourous parties and take a look around to know he was the richest man in the room. Gatsby himself would be swayed, like so many other men, by Becky’s considerable charms, but once together, the two of them would really fall in love over their mutual rise from nothing to the gilded peacocks they became at their respective peaks. Just don’t tell her too soon, Jay, or she’ll run like the wind. But perhaps without all that Daisy business no one would ever find out, so you’re probably in the clear.

Veronica Lodge

Archie Comics’ Veronica Lodge is the ultimate comic-book style guru. While not all of her outfits are winners (she went through a shoulder-padded suit phase), she wears each one with confidence and never puts on the same piece twice. A true trend setter, Veronica is always one step ahead of the game, strutting down Riverdale’s hallways with the latest threads before they even make it to store racks. She pays a steep price for her look, but she’s also the center of attention at any gala, benefit, or school dance. Fashionistas aspire to be her, and fashionable men aspire to be with her.

1. Don’t get caught drunk in a disaster. Also, if you want to rescue Gene Hackman from drowning beneath a flimsy piece of sheet metal, better join the Women’s Swimming Association now.

The Poseidon Adventure (1972)

2. Practice makes perfect.

“I want to welcome all of you on behalf of Advanced Disaster Management, a private consulting firm that conceives and operates simulated evacuations. We are interfacing with twenty-two state bodies in carrying out this advanced disaster drill. The first, I trust, of many. The more we rehearse disaster, the safer we’ll be from the real thing. Life seems to work that way, doesn’t it? You take your umbrella to the office seventeen straight days, not a drop of rain. The first day you leave it at home, record-breaking downpour. Never fails, does it? This is the mechanism we hope to employ, among others.”

White Noise, Don DeLillo (1985)

3. Don’t believe everything you hear on the radio.

The War of the Worlds, by H.G. Wells (1898), as read by Orson Welles on Mercury Theatre in 1938

4. The national pales in comparison to the personal.

“The morning paper was full of earthquake reports. He read it from beginning to end on the plane. The number of dead was rising. Many areas were still without water or electricity, and countless people had lost their homes. Each article reported some new tragedy, but to Komura the details seemed oddly lacking in depth. All sounds reached him as far-off, monotonous echos. The only thing he could give any serious thought to was his wife as she retreated ever farther into the distance.”

“UFO in Kurshiro,” Haruki Murakami (2003)

5. It helps if you can fly.

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

[via BoingBoing]