The 3D movie version of Avatar directed by James Cameron, starring Sigourney Weaver, has driven ticket sales to more than $1.14 around the world in just three weeks.

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By Allan Michael Taylor

The newest impression circling the world at present time is being equally met with the paramount pounding anticipations of the die-hard fans of Harry Potter. The expected thrilling block bluster this year, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince is eventually reaching closer to its release date, with the thumps of the days and nights. All the spectators, widespread across the seven seas and sky, are befalling in an ecstasy to view a glimpse of anything related to their most wanted film.

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While my husband I were in Topeka, Kansas, we went to see the movie UP after the races on Saturday. We thought about seeing Star Trek or Angels and Demons, but we didn’t because we didn’t want to wait three and a half hours and pay $9.25 per person to see either of these movies.

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By Andrew Hawnt

When the first X-men feature film came out way back at the start of the century (man I feel old), it transformed Hugh Jackman into a global star. The chisel-featured Australian played the world’s favourite invincible Canadian, Wolverine, and took many people by surprise with his portrayal. While he doesn’t have the same squat build as Logan in the Marvel comics he originated in, Jackman captured the spirit of the comics legend and brought him to life with a great deal of personality and drama, aside from kicking the backside of bad guys galore.

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By Henry Ashworth

In the recent past Malta has been the shooting site for great, award-winning movies. Most movies are filmed in Hollywood with extensive props to give a realistic feel to the lives of the characters. More filmmakers are now searching for real world settings for their movies.

Troy, 2004's blockbuster hit starring Brad Pitt and Orlando Bloom, introduced the world to Malta. Most of Troy was filmed at Fort Ricasoli. The massive fort was built by the Knights of Malta sometime between 1670 and 1693. Many people around the world would have never had the opportunity to see Fort Ricasoli if producers had decided to use props in a studio.

A Different Loyalty, starring Sharon Stone was shot in Fort St. Elmo in Valletta, Malta in 2004. Fort Saint Elmo divides Marsamxett Harbour and Grand Harbour and provides a grand entrance to both. The fort doubled for the city of Beirut in the movie. The Golden Sands Beach was also chosen as a setting for parts of the movie.

Alexander, starring Colin Farrell, Anthony Hopkins and Angelina Jolie and directed by Oliver Stone included shots from Valletta's Grand Harbour. Grand Harbour is a natural harbour that has been since Roman times. The harbour doubled as part of the ancient port city of Alexandria in the movie.

The 1995 pirate movie, Cutthroat Island, with Geena Davis and Matthew Modine, was filmed primarily in Vittoriosa. The Maritime Museum is seen multiple times in the film. Mdina, Fort St. Elmo and the Dingli Cliffs were also settings for scenes in the movie. Water tanks were provided by The Mediterranean Film Studio for use in the sea scenes.

A nighttime scene from Gladiator with Russell Crowe was filmed at Couvre Port just outside Vittoriosa. The remainder of the film was primarily shot at a replica of the Roman Coliseum. The replica was built at Fort Ricasoli on Malta.

The 1980 production of Popeye, starring Robin Williams and Shelley Duvall, was filmed near Mellieha. After building the set and filming the movie there, they left it all in place. Now known as Popeye Village, the set is a popular family attraction and includes a film about the making of the movie.

The 2002 movie The Count of Monte Cristo was actually filmed in Valletta and Vittoriosa instead of Marseille. The rocky area below Fort Saint Elmo served as the setting for a few scenes, as well as St. Paul's Cathedral in Mdina. St. Mary's Tower on Comino Island doubled as the Chateau d'If.

Madonna and Guy Ritchie chose Malta to shoot their 2002 film, Swept Away. Different scenes used various sites in Comino and Malta. The Italian port in the movie was actually filmed in Vittriosa. The snorkeling scene was filmed in the Blue Lagoon on Comino Island, between Malta and Gozo.

Other movies and TV shows that have been filmed in Malta include Midnight Express, Pinocchio, Raise the Titanic, U-571, Orca: Killer Whale, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, White Squall and Helen of Troy. With such an impressive mix of movies, one has to ponder what comes next.

Many of the movies previously mentioned in this article have included specific parts of Malta for successful scenes. Most recently, Oscar winning director Alejandro Amenabar has been working with Rachel Weisz filming Agora. The ancient Egyptian epic is being filmed on Malta and includes at least three Maltese actors in leading roles. Maltese workers comprise much of the crew. Agora is the first film to be shot entirely on Malta.

The Maltese government sees this as yet another opportunity for prmoting the audience to the wider world, and with much of Malta's economy dependent upon the travel trade just one successful film can have a positive influence on the number of visitors to Malta – the island will be looking forward to more film crews arriving in 2009.

The different towns and villages of Malta can be read about at yourmalta.com and includes airlines with Malta flights to Luqa Airport. Vacation and holiday in Malta details are available on the Malta travel site, and includes a Malta map