LATEST NEWS…SHARON VS DANNII ROUND TWO: Outspoken former X-Factor judge Sharon Osbourne has launched another scathing attack on her X-Factor co-star, the untalented Minogue sister (no need to elaborate). Mrs Osbourne previously said Dannii was only chosen as a judge because the show's creator Simon Cowell wanted to sleep with her. This time Sharon called Danni "f*cking useless." "She wasn't so much a dim bulb as a bulb in a power cut," Shaz added." You have to hand it to Sharon - she calls a spade a spade….NAOMI STRIKES AGAIN: Our favourite supermodel with anger management issues, Naomi Campbell, allegedly punched out a taxi driver in New York late last month. The driver claims the out-of-control model flew into a rage and began hitting him from the back seat leaving him with a black eye. He alleged that Naomi jumped from the vehicle and ran from the scene after he stopped the car to contact police. Taxi drivers all over New York now have a fear much greater than late-night knife muggings - God help them…WINO BACK WITH EX: Amy Winehouse has reunited with her druggie ex Blake Fielder-Civil. The pair were spotted pashing outside a London restaurant. The couple decided to reconcile their train-wreck relationship after Blake left her for another woman last year. Despite Blake making K-Fed look like the catch of the century, Wino probably hasn't been sober since she met him anyway. Well someone needs to fill Whitney and Bobby's shoes….TIGER'S GOT BALLS: Golf balls that is. Tiger Woods has resumed training and sources close to the family say the disgraced golfer will return to golf at the Tavistock Cup tournament on March 22. Meanwhile there has been no sign of the player's wronged wife Elin, although reports say she visited the man-whore - err sorry, her husband - in sex rehab. He probably should return to work since buying his wife's silence obviously comes at a very high price…LIFE IMITATES ART FOR TV STAR: 'Two and a Half Men' star John Cryer, who plays Charlie's super annoying brother Allen, isn't just hated by his onscreen ex wife. The whiny actor allegedly had a hit taken out on him by his actual ex wife (the aptly named) Sarah Trigger. A US court alleged that Trigger wanted to have the actor bumped off because he no longer agreed pay his $10 000-a-month child support for their two kids. Meanwhile his onscreen brother Charlie Sheen is in rehab after threatening his wife with a pocket knife. On the plus-side, there's enough drama in their lives to inspire a whole new series of 'Men'…UNDERBELLY - ANOTHER CONTROVERSY: It just wouldn't be Underbelly without controversy. The new series 'Underbelly: The Golden Years' about the Kings Cross underworld is again embroiled in controversy as a former Kings Cross police officer depicted in the show sues for defamation. The former officer, Wendy Gaye Hatfield, has demanded that the Supreme Court allow her to preview episodes before they go to air to ensure she has not been defamed. Hatfield believes that the plot suggests she had a sexual relationship with a notorious Kings Cross nightclub owner and was promoted in the NSW police force by providing sexual favours. While it all sounds juicy, Hatfield will try to stop parts of the show that paint her in a bad light from going to air. She probably doesn't realise she can cash in on the controversy just like Roberta Williams….MR HEIDI MONTAG IN HOSPITAL: Mrs plastic fantastic Heidi Montag's less famous other half, Spencer Pratt, was recently hospitalised needing stitches in his tongue. The injury to his tongue occurred in a bizarre incident where he implicated his new pet dog after he bit his own tongue leaving him unable to talk for several days. Unable to accept responsibility for being a clumsy fool, he blamed his poor (more intelligent) Pomeranian for his stupidity. Given the mindless rubbish that comes out of The Hills star's mouth, here's hoping he bites his tongue more often….JOHN HELPS JESS GET GUYS: John Mayer's recent comments about Jessica Simpson's talents as a lover are helping the blonde singer pull men. In an Oprah interview early this month, Jess said her phone had been ringing off the hook since John described her as "sexual napalm" to US Playboy. Meanwhile, no females will touch John Mayer with a ten foot pole after he described his junk as a 'white supremacist' and basically bagged all of his former girlfriends in the highest selling men's magazine in the world. Perhaps John also needs to have a freak accident involving Spencer Pratt's dog?...CHERYL COLE DUMPS HUSBAND: Another day, another sports star cheats on his wife. This time it's British soccer player Ashley Cole who has cheated on UK glamour girl and former Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Cole. The 26-year-old glamour found Shane Warne-style text messages on her husband's phone and after countless other infidelities on his part, finally decided to leave his ass. Cheryl is busy promoting her solo album '3 Words' which has been given rave reviews, so she probably isn't wasting much time crying over it. For the last time girls, do not date rockers, sports men or actors - unless you are totally against monogamy….
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JOURNEY TO MECCA
In the footsteps of Ibn Battuta

Dalai Lama endorses new IMAX film, 'Journey to Mecca'
Aerial view of the sacred Hajj captured for the very first time

'Journey to Mecca', a documentary feature just released at IMAX Theatre Darling Harbour, has received endorsements from leaders from many religions including the Dalai Lama.

Telling the incredible story of Ibn Battuta, the greatest explorer of the Old World, Journey to Mecca follows his first pilgrimage between 1325 and 1326 from Tangier to Mecca. His perilous journey resonates with adventure while presenting an unforgettable picture of Islamic civilization during the 14th century, culminating with Ibn Battuta's first Hajj. The story is book-ended by a close-up look at the contemporary Hajj, a pilgrimage to Mecca that draws three million Muslims from around the world.

"'Journey to Mecca' is a wonderful way for people of all races and religions to experience, possibly the greatest expedition on earth," explains Afroz Ali, Founder of the Al-Ghazzali Centre.

"The Hajj is a once in a lifetime journey that most will never experience - this IMAX experience is the closest many of us will ever get to this great pilgrimage."

It is the duty of every Muslim to visit Mecca at least once in their lifetime, if possible. The filmmakers behind Journey to Mecca felt it their duty to tell the story of Ibn Battuta, largely unknown in the West, and to explain the Hajj in order to create a bridge between the Muslim and Western worlds and develop an understanding of its ultimate purpose - Peace.

'Journey to Mecca' marks the first and only time an IMAX® camera has been admitted into the most sacred sanctuary of Islam - the Grand Mosque in Mecca. As The Hajj is strictly for Muslims only, the directors were required to train Muslim cameramen to use the IMAX® cameras to allow them to film in the space.

The narrative drama was filmed in Morocco by the sea at Agadir, doubling for Tangier, circa 1325, and in desert locations near the Algerian border where the production assembled the longest and one of the largest caravans ever filmed - featuring camels, horses, donkeys to sheep and goats in addition to hundreds of extras in period costume.

Moving to Ouarzazate, the epic picture shot on plains lying between the Atlas Mountains, on a man-made river replicating the Nile, at Bedouin encampments, on sand dunes and at an oasis, on sets in studios including a hand-carved Cairo library, and in colourful souks, completing principal photography in the biggest and most meaningful set of all, a historical recreation of Mecca in 1326 where 450 extras performed the Hajj under the tutelage of the local Imam, and other leading experts on the Hajj. Altogether, over 4,500 extras appeared in the film.

'Journey to Mecca' will take viewers on an incredible voyage through the dynamic landscapes of Saudi Arabia and Morocco as they experience a unique cultural story that is sure to resonate long after they leave the theatre.

www.imax.com.au

'Journey to Mecca' is now open at IMAX.

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