Jumat, 11 Juni 2010

MTV News

MTV News


Green Day Say 'Rock Band' Makes Them 'Look Like Superheroes'

Posted: 11 Jun 2010 03:52 AM PDT

The band has some wacky ideas for what else game's developers can do with their avatars.
By James Montgomery


"Green Day: Rock Band"

One of — OK, probably the — biggest perk in getting your own video game is actually being in the game itself. At least that's what the guys in Green Day told us when we asked them about the just-released "Green Day: Rock Band." It seems that, much like James Cameron, the band was avatar crazy.

"We look like superheroes!" frontman Billie Joe Armstong laughed. "You know, it'd be interesting if they made the 'Rock Band' version of us getting out of bed in the morning, you know, like, scratching yourself and then making coffee."

"They were pretty gracious. They didn't give me nearly as many pimples as I had when I was younger," bassist Mike Dirnt added of the game's developers. "They managed to somehow make me look a little better than I did when I was younger [and] now too."

And while "Rock Band" may make Armstong, Dirnt and drummer Tre Cool look even better than they normally do (no offense intended) and goes to great length to capture their likenesses at various stages in their career — from scowling, scatological-minded kids to well-worn, worldly vets — the guys in Green Day wonder why the developers didn't take the avatar technology one step further. The way they see it, the possibilities are endless.

"They've got to come up with like, a beer bottle, for [when] you'll play the guitar, and then you reach for a drink and then, you can get points right there ... it's like, the whole graphic will show up, you know?" Armstrong smiled. "A lit cigarette at the top of the guitar, [smoke it] put it back. [There's] no end to the possibilities."

And if the avatar situation can be that advanced, why stop there?

"There could be interviews in the game too. Like, a concept where you have a journalist that comes up with the microphone and [the player] will have a microphone and have to match the interview," Armstrong said. "You know, get it right, you get points off that. It's a great idea — you guys, are you writing this down?"

"They can call it 'Embedded Journalist 2!' " Dirnt laughed.

MTV News is celebrating the release of "Green Day: Rock Band" with a week of special coverage. For more on the game, check out our blog.

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Black Rob Calls Post-Prison Material 'A Testament' To His Longevity

Posted: 11 Jun 2010 03:52 AM PDT

'I can come home and do it again,' the onetime Bad Boy MC tells Mixtape Daily.
By Shaheem Reid


Black Rob
Photo: MTV News

The O.D.: A Mixtape Daily Exclusive

Black Rob makes no excuses. He knows his career as an MC could have been more successful than it has been, but when asked where the blame should fall, he points the finger at the man in the mirror. Rob was forced to take a four-year hiatus from the rap game when he went to prison in 2006 on grand larceny charges.

Back in 2004, Black Rob stole some jewelry from a fellow guest at the On the Avenue Hotel in Manhattan, and he was caught on tape. Rob says it was a move he regretted almost as soon as he made it.

As far as his decade-plus stint on Diddy's Bad Boy records, Rob (real name Robert Ross) admitted his attention wasn't where it was supposed to be. He's only delivered two albums, 1999's critically acclaimed Life Story — which spawned the classic "Whoa!" — and 2005's The Black Rob Report.

"I'mma tell you like this," Rob told Mixtape Daily. "I'm blaming myself for that. I wasn't focused. I was running around wild-style. I'm out of town. I'm [telling my label]: 'I'm never coming back to New York.' I didn't have the work ethic that I have right now. If I had the work ethic that I have right now, I'd probably be 10 albums deep. But things happen. We not gonna cry over it. One thing I do know is that the two albums I did put out, they solidified my name and a brand. Therefore, I can come home and do it again. Those two albums left the door wide-open. Like, 'B.R. is nasty. He can come right back.' Not too many people can do what I'm doing right now. Come back home after doing four joints, five joints and pop off again," the rapper said, referring to his time behind bars. "This is a testament right now."

Rob was released from prison in May and he's already recorded more than 25 songs. The Spanish Harlem native says he does three tracks a day now. His new street CD is dropping within the next couple of weeks.

"We got the mixtape Game Tested, Street Approved," he said. "We gonna do five volumes of that. Five is always power in [principles of] mathematics. We gonna do five of those and crush 'em with that. Then we got the album, probably not this year, but the beginning of next year, second quarter or something. Name of the album is Losing's Not an Option. This is what we do. So this is the big words for the day: 'Losing's not an option.' "

Blacko has already released several songs to the Net and the street in advance of the mixtape.

" 'Ventilation,' basically it speaks for itself," Rob said. "I'm venting. I said some things on there. People might feel some kind of way or put the shoe on their foot. But at this point, we don't care who feels some kind of way. It's talking about cats in the street, as well as cats in the industry. 'New York,' that joint is an old classic. I did that record when I was on my way to prison. It was fitting for me to do a type of record like that because when you in prison, all you think about is New York. 'I'm going in, I'mma do this time and come home.' 'Shake a Leg' is just me on my B.S. Showing rhyme skills and talking about real stuff as usual."

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines or follow the Mixtape Daily team on Twitter: @shaheemreid and @mongosladenyc.

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Nick Cannon Recalls Being A Drive-Thru Comic On 'When I Was 17'

Posted: 11 Jun 2010 06:09 AM PDT

'My mother made me get a job at, like, Wienerschnitzel,' Cannon says of his first job.
By Jocelyn Vena


Nick Cannon
Photo: MTV News

Nick Cannon is doing just fine for himself. He's a radio host, actor, TV personality, is married to Mariah Carey and he also happens to be a TV exec. But there was a time when money didn't come easily to him: He had to get a job during in high school to help his family out. It's just too bad he was too focused on being an entertainer to keep it for very long ...

"When I was 17, we weren't doing that well financially," Cannon, who now has a very good work ethic, says in this week's episode of "When I Was 17" (airing Saturday at 11 a.m. ET), which also features Aubrey O'Day and Donald Trump. "And my mother, at the time, was working extremely hard. She was going to school. She had a couple of jobs."

So in order to take off some of the pressure off Mama Cannon, she asked her son to pitch in. And, well, he tried ...

"My mother made me get a job at, like, Wienerschnitzel," he recalls in the episode. "[It was a job] just to kind of help ends meet. I ended up getting fired."

Why was Cannon fired? Well, he was practicing for his future career. "I ended up getting fired because I was playing on the intercom system at the drive-thru, telling jokes," he explains. "That's when I knew I wanted to be a stand-up comic."

"When I Was 17" — this week featuring Donald Trump, Nick Cannon and Aubrey O'Day — airs Saturday at 11 a.m. on MTV.

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'Breaking Dawn' To Be Released As Two Films

Posted: 10 Jun 2010 07:27 AM PDT

Part 1 of the final chapter is set for release on November 18, 2011.
By Kara Warner


Taylor Lautner, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson in "Eclipse"
Photo: Summit Entertainment

Confirming what many have speculated for months, Summit Entertainment officially announced Thursday (June 10) that "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn" will be released as two separate films. The first of the two films is scheduled to be released in theaters on November 18, 2011. The release date for the second film was not announced.

With one major question answered, a few others have been raised. Specifically, where will the filmmakers choose to end the first film and begin the second? Will either film jump on the increasingly popular 3-D bandwagon?

Academy Award winner Bill Condon has signed on to direct both films, and after negotiating their various contracts, all the main players will be back — Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner, along with Billy Burke as Charlie Swan, Peter Facinelli, Elizabeth Reaser, Jackson Rathbone, Nikki Reed, Ashley Greene and Kellan Lutz — to finish the final chapter of the hugely popular franchise.

Screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg, who has written all the "Twilight" films thus far, is writing both parts of "Breaking Dawn." Rosenberg promised fans earlier this year that despite the book having graphic scenes of childbirth and sex, "Breaking Dawn" will be rated PG-13.

"The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn" will start production in the fall. The third film in the series, "Eclipse," is due in theaters on June 30, 2010.

What do you think of "Breaking Dawn" being separated into two films? Where should part one end and part two begin?

Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Lady Gaga's 'Alejandro': Video's Religious Imagery Gets Mixed Reactions From Fans

Posted: 10 Jun 2010 02:50 AM PDT

'Absolutely AMAZING video. So long as you leave behind all your prejudices ...,' one MTVNews.com commenter wrote.
By Kara Warner


Lady Gaga in "Alejandro"
Photo: Interscope Records

Ever since the premiere of Lady Gaga's controversial video for "Alejandro," news outlets and fans alike have been furiously debating the pros and cons, Gaga-as-Madonna imagery and, perhaps most of all, the religious symbolism.

"Alejandro" director Steven Klein told MTV News via e-mail that the religious symbolism is not meant to denote anything negative. "[It] represents the character's battle between the dark forces of this world and the spiritual salvation of the Soul," Klein wrote. "Thus at the end of the film, she chooses to be a nun, and the reason her mouth and eyes disappear is because she is withdrawing her senses from the world of evil and going inward towards prayer and contemplation." Klein added that the scene in which Gaga ingests the rosary beads is meant to represent "the desire to take in the holy."

The reaction to his statement by MTV News commenters — who were by and large overwhelmingly positive supporters of Gaga — has been mixed. Most praise the Lady for always pushing the envelope but found the religious elements of the video confusing and, in a few cases, too over-the-top.

Bill wrote, "Absolutely AMAZING video. So long as you leave behind all your prejudices and allow yourself to be immersed in the artistry and statements made, it should be easy to see why Gaga is at the top of the game. Absolutely brilliant work. Kudos to all involved in the production of this video!"

Drayke said the video was "a bit long, but overall I absolutely loved it. Both for its messages (some clear, some vague and open to much interpretation), its artsy '20s feel, and the fact that for ONCE it's the men who are paraded around like sexual objects (the heels are a perfect touch lol.) It's sure to piss a lot of people off, but not just for the sake of it. The video challenges people's notions about what is offensive and what's just free expression and for that I think it's a rare, important video. Good job Gaga!"

According to commenter Nick, "The biggest issue with this music video is its use of arcane and confusing visual elements," he wrote. "Even though they are of a religious nature, it's not so much that she is using them blasphemously, but rather the video doesn't configure an argument about [how] the symbols should be perceived. Bottom line is that Gaga and Klein should have done better editing and constructed a better narrative so the idea that Gaga becomes pious and is fighting good and evil is as easy to understand [as], oh, let's say the Pussywagon [featured in Gaga's "Telephone" video]."

Kyle wrote that while he "loves the Gaga," her videos and her crossing lines, he had problems with several elements of the video: "The biggest problem was it tried way too hard to 'make a point.' I was watching LKL ['Larry King Live'] and she said this was a dedication to the gay community. Please tell how having stereotypical gay guys and her dry humping one of them is standing up for the gay community. Secondly, the religious thing is too much. I almost got sick when I saw her swallow the rosary and I'm not even practicing anything. Slow down Gaga. Truth is, she hasn't even put out her sophomore album. What's the first video going to be, blurred out sex? I like her music and I just don't want to see her fizzle out, because she put it all out there without a natural progression."

Derek Vickers took issue with his fellow commenters' narrow-mindedness: "People need to open their minds and look past the obvious 'sexuality' in the video. I don't doubt that she is trying to push limits and get people talking, but that's not all she is doing! If you actually watch the video with a little openness, you'll actually see what she and the video's director are trying to relay. It's an over-the-top representation of the battle that most all religious people go through on a daily basis. Who cares if it's 'over the top.' It's music, and it's supposed to be artistic and eccentric. I really admire that she completely understands what it means to be an entertainer. She's the only one in a long time to totally embody music and art as one."

Do you think the imagery in Lady Gaga's "Alejandro" video goes too far? Let us know in the comments.

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'The A-Team' Cheat Sheet: Everything You Need To Know

Posted: 11 Jun 2010 03:52 AM PDT

Bradley Cooper, Liam Neeson lead gun-loving soldiers of fortune out to prove their innocence.
By Eric Ditzian


Bradley Cooper in "The A-Team"
Photo: 20th Century Fox

"The A-Team" left the NBC airwaves in March 1987. In the ensuing 23 years, all we've had were reruns and the memory of Hannibal whispering, "I love it when a plan comes together!"

Now those bomb-exploding, chopper-crashing, gun-loving soldiers of fortune are back, as "The A-Team" arrives in theaters on Friday (June 11). If you missed 'em or if you never even knew 'em, it's time to meet the crew: Liam Neeson as cigar-chomping leader Hannibal; Bradley Cooper as smooth-talking Face; Sharlto Copley as loony Murdock; and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson as milk-drinking, ass-kicking B.A. Baracus.

Special Forces soldiers wrongly convicted of war crimes, the four men band together to prove their innocence — and blow up a crapload of stuff in the process. The movie is, in a word, loud. It's also a ton of fun, and MTV News wants you to enjoy the experience to the fullest. That's why we've been following this project since its inception. Now, we present to you another edition of our big-screen cheat sheet: everything you need to know about "The A-Team."

The Plan Begins To Come Together
After years of false starts, in January 2009, Joe Carnahan ("Smoking Aces") signed on to direct the adaptation, with Ridley and Tony Scott coming aboard as producers. By June of that year, Cooper and Neeson had joined up, followed in August by Rampage. Copley and Jessica Biel, who plays the hard-nosed government agent going after the Team, inked deals in September.

Filming on "The A-Team" kicked off in the fall, and the first photo of the guys on set popped up shortly thereafter. Days later, the world got its first peek at Rampage as Baracus, taking over the role made famous by Mr. T.

Before she headed off to shoot, Biel spoke with MTV News about tackling the classic "A-Team" material. "I think it will be a little bit similar here and there, but we really have our own tone going on," she said. "It's a little bit less campy than the actual show and a little bit more serious action and fighting sequences but still with lots of humor. Lots and lots of humor."

The Team Lights It Up
The first official glimpse of the new A-Team arrived in January 2010, when the trailer dropped online. It gave us a brief intro to the crew — and revived the pleasant sounds of the show's familiar theme song. The studio, Fox, followed up that trailer with a slew of photos: explosions, guns and close looks at all of the characters.

The following month, we were treated to introductions by video to members of the Team — Hannibal. Face and Biel's Sosa. A second and final trailer was released in April, giving us more of everything we've come to expect from "The A-Team": weapons, tough talk and mayhem.

The New Crew Rolls Out
Cooper, Biel, Neeson and the rest of the cast hit the red carpet last week for the Los Angeles premiere of their movie, where MTV News' official Coca-Cola Movie Awards Insider was on hand to take in the action.

Then over the weekend, we chatted with the cast once again. Cooper revealed that once they started shooting, the script basically got thrown out the window. "The script was fantastic actually," he said. "And it sort of went away when we started shooting it, and that was an interesting process. That was probably the most morphed element of the movie, was what happened to the script."

Script or not, Carnahan and his team have got big plans for a sequel if it turns out the first one resonates with audiences more than two decades after the TV series went off the air. Those plans include the possibility of Mr. T re-entering the "A-Team" world.

"My thing with T was, I brought him down to the editorial and showed him a lot of the film, and he loved it and laughed and was very supportive and seemed to really dig Rampage in that role," Carnahan said. "I thought, where T is concerned, if there's ever going to be a cameo, you don't burn your powder. I think that's a guy you save potentially for something bigger."

Check out everything we've got on "The A-Team."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Shia LaBeouf Misses Megan Fox On Set Of 'Transformers 3'

Posted: 11 Jun 2010 06:30 AM PDT

Actor actor looks forward to 'new perspective' of Fox's replacement, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.
By Jocelyn Vena


Shia LaBeouf in "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen"
Photo: Paramount Pictures

Earlier this spring, movie fans everywhere were surprised to hear that Megan Fox wouldn't be back to fight evil alien robots alongside Shia LaBeouf for "Transformers 3." Fox has been replaced by Victoria's Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, who will play a new love interest for LaBeouf's Sam. And it seems like LaBeouf has mixed feelings about the switch-up.

"I love Megan and I miss the girl," LaBeouf told USA Today from the set of the third film. "But Sam and Mikaela became one character, and here ... you have discovery again from a new perspective."

It isn't just LaBeouf who is hoping that some change will revive the franchise. Director Michael Bay told the paper that in this third film they hope to resolve some of the problems that fans and movie critics disliked in the second film, "Revenge of the Fallen."

"I'll take some of the criticism," he said. "It was very hard to put [the sequel] together that quickly after the writers' strike [of 2007-08]. ... This one really builds to a final crescendo. It's not three multiple endings."

Bay believes that the film's villain, Shockwave, and its top-secret plot will keep fans on the edge of their seats.

"One thing we're getting rid of is what I call the 'dorky comedy.' So the twins, the two bumbling, slang-spewing robots? They're basically gone," he explained, adding that John Turturro will still be on hand for comic relief. "The movie is more of a mystery. It ties in what we know as history growing up as kids with what really happened. As a trilogy, it really ends. It could be rebooted again, but I think it has a really killer ending."

What do you think "Transformers 3" needs to do to revive the franchise? Share your ideas in the comments.

Check out everything we've got on "Transformers 3."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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'The Karate Kid': Crane Shot, By Kurt Loder

Posted: 11 Jun 2010 03:52 AM PDT

Jackie Chan sets up a star turn for the surprising young Jaden Smith.


Jaden Smith in "The Karate Kid"
Photo: Columbia Pictures

Is there a generation of 12-year-old girls out there yearning for a 12-year-old action-hunk to obsess about? If so, their prayers have been answered. In "The Karate Kid," Jaden Smith, in only his third film, emerges as a charismatic star with what would seem, to this non-12-year-old girl, to be a precocious romantic appeal.

The movie is a sort-of remake of the 1984 "Karate Kid," which turned 23-year-old Ralph Macchio into a generational touchstone back in the day. Here, the bones of the original story remain, but they've been freely reassembled. In the first film, Macchio's fish-out-of-water character had been forced to relocate from New Jersey to California — a puny challenge in this global age. Now, Smith's character, Dre Parker, has to relocate all the way to China with his widowed mother (Taraji P. Henson), who's been transferred there by the company for which she works. (A vague plot element, but really, who cares?)

So Dre arrives in Beijing, friendless and alienated, and enrolls in some sort of international school. He hates his life. But then he meets a cute girl, a violin prodigy named Meiying (angel-faced Wenwen Han), whose disapproving father will soon complicate their budding relationship. Then, unfortunately, he meets a less-charming group of local hooligans led by an older kid named Cheng (Zhenwei Wang), who immediately start pushing him around. Dre tries to retaliate with some meager karate moves he learned off television back in the States, but the hooligans just sneer. Karate is a trifling Japanese discipline; the native Chinese martial art is kung fu (or, more precisely, I suppose, wushu). As we see, the movie's title is entirely vestigial.

One day, during a beatdown by Cheng and his friends, Dre is rescued by the maintenance man in the apartment building he now calls home. This is Mr. Han, and he's played, in a bit of perfect casting, by the great Jackie Chan. Chan is such a warm and appealing presence that his entry into the story gives it a new emotional glow. Unbeknown to anyone, Mr. Han is actually a kung-fu master who has withdrawn from the world following a personal tragedy about which we only later learn. Informed that Cheng and company are members of a kung-fu team called the Fighting Dragons, he takes Dre to their training school to try to smooth things over. There, however, they also encounter the Dragons' instructor, the snarling Master Li (Rongguang Yu), whose exhortations to his students ("No Mercy! Our enemies deserve pain!") suggest that he hasn't entirely internalized the spiritual component of his chosen art.

At the point where Mr. Han volunteers Dre for an upcoming kung-fu tournament in which he'll face off against the various Dragons, we begin a long wait for that showdown to actually happen. The movie runs nearly two-and-a-half hours, and you can tick off whole sequences that might have been cut, mainly welcome-to-Beijing travelogue footage of the city's streets and parks and exotic markets (fried scorpions!). There are some lovely scenes at a sort of kung-fu temple high up in the mountains, and a visually arresting (if implausible) training session with Mr. Han and Dre high atop the Great Wall. This material takes up a lot of time, though. Presumably, having gone to considerable trouble to stage these and other interludes (including a rarely allowed visit to Beijing's Forbidden City), director Harald Zwart was reluctant to compress them.

Still, the movie flows. And the classical simplicity of the story leads us along smoothly to the high-flying tournament confrontation that concludes the picture. (Although the famous "crane kick" of the 1984 film, which belatedly crops up at this juncture, comes out of nowhere and for no particular reason.) Chan himself, who's now 56 years old, doesn't whip out any of the astonishing acrobatics for which he's become famous over the last 40-odd years; but any slack in that department is skillfully taken up by Jaden Smith, who underwent what must have been intense training to develop whiplash martial skills of his own. As an actor, with his thoughtful composure and subtle humor, he strongly resembles his father, Will Smith, who co-produced the movie with his son's mom, Jada Pinkett Smith. Happily, what they have wrought is not an exercise in rich-and-famous nepotism — it's a showcase for a worthy heir. The kung-fu kid delivers.

Check out everything we've got on "The Karate Kid"

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Dutch Producer Afrojack Makes New York Debut With Roxy Cottontail

Posted: 11 Jun 2010 05:57 AM PDT

Promoter Cottontail embraces the Dutch house sound sweeping the clubs this year.
By Akshay Bhansali


Roxy Cottontail
Photo: Getty Images

After making a dramatic splash at this year's Winter Music Conference, Dutch electronic DJ/producer Afrojack has been on his first U.S. tour for these past few weeks. This weekend will see him spinning on the East Coast for a gig Friday night (June 11) at Voyeur in Philadelphia, and on Saturday at Santos Party House in New York.

It's been an impressive year thus far for Afrojack (born Nick van de Wall). The 22-year-old rising star's electro-house single "Bangduck" is a house-set favorite, and his collaboration with crossover star David Guetta, "Louder Than Words," has been among the top downloads on the Beatport.com charts since the song dropped just over two weeks ago.

Saturday's gig at Santos will mark Afrojack's first performance in New York, and fittingly, he will be sharing the bill with famous New York party promoter Roxy Cottontail. Cottontail, who's had a hand in furthering the careers of the likes of Kid Cudi, Diplo and Spank Rock, is now an artist in her own right (though she still throws parties from time to time). She released "Let's Make Nasty," produced by electro-clash DJ/producer/promoter Larry Tee, and Afrojack went on to remix the song in time for this year's WMC. The song quickly became one of the more sought-after house songs of the spring.

"Larry and I had talked about who should do the remix," Cottontail told MTV News this week. "We both agreed that Diplo should do it, but he was busy with Major Lazer. Then Larry said, 'There's this kid coming out, his name is Afrojack. He actually just remixed Major Lazer, and it's getting a lot of play. I think he's gonna be huge.' Ultra [Records] had him remix it, and I was like, 'This is awesome.' I think it was kind of like a blessing that Diplo didn't do it and gave the opportunity to Afrojack.

"This past year, the Dutch house — Holland house — that sound has really taken over," Cottontail continued. "And when I heard it, it was such a progressive sound. Very electronic, but still with a poppy kind of element to it. I really think he put the cherry on top of the cake."

Cottontail assured MTV News that she and Afrojack will be performing their hit song on stage this weekend in New York. And following the success of her first venture into the Holland house genre, she had her next single, "My Bad," produced by Dutch electro outfit Party Squad, who have also collaborated with Diplo and Afrojack in the past.

"I think it's really cute, catchy, kind of naughty, but not offensive," she said of the new track, which she hopes to release by the end of the summer. "It's about making mistakes, but doing it a cute way."

Black Eyed Peas, John Legend, Alicia Keys, More Light Up World Cup Concert

Posted: 10 Jun 2010 04:08 AM PDT

Stars from across the globe gather in South Africa to kick off the 2010 FIFA World Cup with a massive concert.
By Mawuse Ziegbe


Fergie performs with the Black Eyed Peas at the World Cup Concert Thursday
Photo: Getty Images

On Thursday (June 10), many of the world's biggest entertainers helped kick off what is arguably the world's biggest sporting event, the 2010 FIFA World Cup, with a massive concert at Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa. As the soccer/football competition pits nations against each other in the game, the concert highlighted Africa's singular talent while setting the stage for some international collaborations.

A legion of dancers and drummers heralded South African trumpet legend Hugh Masekela, who opened the event with singer Lira. Following an address by FIFA president Sepp Blatter and South African president Jacob Zuma, the Black Eyed Peas rocked the stage. The Peas got the party started with their feel-good hit "Where Is the Love?" Fergie and Will.I.Am (who was decked out in a snappy sequined jacket with rope detail reminiscent of Michael Jackson) then led the thousands of concertgoers through "Pump It."

Dancers in graphic print black-and-white bodysuits bounded onstage for the Peas speaker-rattling banger "Boom Boom Pow." Will.I.Am donned a metal mask and Fergie rocked some wild long nails as the group charged though their international smash. Then the crew was flanked by dozens of dancers sporting colorful T-shirts and belts busting high-energy moves for "I Gotta Feeling," bringing an African vibe to the Peas set.

Later in the show, John Legend joined Benin's Angelique Kidjo for their cover of Curtis Mayfield's "Move On Up," with Kidjo adding African lyrics to the duo's revamp. Then Legend, looking prep-school suave in a pale blue jacket and slacks, took to the piano for his version of Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes' call-to-action song, "Wake Up Everybody," backed by the Soweto Gospel Choir. Legend then implored to the crowd, "Are you ready to go?" before finishing up with his up-tempo hit "Green Light."

A spry Archbishop Desmond Tutu drew cheers from the crowd for his animated introduction of a video featuring activist and South African icon Nelson Mandela. The thousands of fans got into it when he shouted, "We are all African!"

Alicia Keys didn't let her recently announced pregnancy stop her from rocking the stage in sky-high heels, as the singer came out to an amped-up version of "You Don't Know My Name." She then transitioned into "Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart" before retreating to her grand piano for an upbeat, syncopated rendition of "Fallin'." The singer put her hometown on the world stage with her spare version of the mammoth New York City anthem "Empire State of Mind." However, Keys switched it up for the occasion at the end of the song, belting, "When you're in Africa ...," and swapping out "New York" for "World Cup." Then, backed by South African folk-punk group Blk Jks, Keys launched into a heartfelt cover of "Too Late for Mama" by the late South African pop star Brenda Fassie.

Somali hip-hop artist K'Naan energized the crowd with his World Cup anthem "Wavin' Flag" as the mass of concertgoers thrust their respective national flags in the air. Will.I.Am returned to the stage to join K'Naan, apparently siding with a legendary soccer team in lieu of being patriotic, and waved a Brazilian flag in the air.

Kicking off her set with "She Wolf," Shakira brought her singular undulating skills to the stage, gyrating in a cut-out bodysuit and shaking her hips in a shredded skirt. She then went into her waist-swiveling smash "Hips Don't Lie" flanked by several belly dancers and shouted out her native Colombia after an extended dance break. The star finished up with her buoyant official World Cup track "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" as confetti sprayed into the air.

Several international artists such as Amadou & Mariam, Vusi Mahlasela, and Vieux Farka Toure also performed.

The concert closed with an image of worldwide musical solidarity as Will.I.Am, Fergie, K'Naan, Shakira and others joined African artists like Angelique Kidjo and Tinariwen onstage to sing Sly and the Family Stone's "Everyday People." Fireworks streaked the sky as the stars signed off from Joburg.

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Lady Gaga Rocks Bikini, Flips The Bird At Mets Game

Posted: 10 Jun 2010 03:29 AM PDT

Singer retreats to suite after photographers turn their cameras on her.
By Kara Warner


Lady Gaga attends a Mets game Thursday
Photo: Nick Laham/ Getty Images

Lady Gaga is a dedicated New York Yankees fan, but that's not the only reason she surprised fans, players and photographers alike on Thursday (June 10) when she showed up at Citi Field in New York for a Mets game. Sporting her trademark wardrobe choices, the singer arrived at the game in a bikini-like bra top, a large leather jacket, and, according to reports, a rather testy attitude.

AOL's Popeater received photographic evidence of the Lady via a Twitter photo sent in by Mets fan Jimmie Kassab. In the photo, Gaga looks slightly perturbed and is pointing accusingly at two gentlemen standing near her VIP seats behind home plate.

According to reports from fans at the game (including one humorous account from the father of a writer/reporter at website Jezebel), in the fifth inning, Gaga became upset when photographers who were at the game to cover the Mets suddenly noticed her presence and turned their lenses on her. Gaga reacted by giving the photographers the finger and whisked herself and her entourage out of their seats at homeplate to take refuge in a luxury suite.

Speaking with MTV News during the World Series last year, Gaga compared herself to Yankees reliever Mariano Rivera — a situation that's even more relevant today given the reaction to her latest video, "Alejandro."

"I've actually been making a lot of Yankee analogies in my interviews lately because I get asked, 'Do you feel pressure? How do you feel when someone says this? Or do you feel like you have to top yourself?' " she explained. "I say I do feel like I have to top myself. But I feel like I'm Rivera. I'm a closer."

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Shakira, Bono, R. Kelly, Russell Brand Score With World Cup Anthems

Posted: 10 Jun 2010 01:16 AM PDT

Skakira's official FIFA World Cup song 'Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)' has much company among 2010 soccer anthems.
By Gil Kaufman


Shakira kicks off the 2010 World Cup in Johannesburg, South Africa on Thursday
Photo: Michelly Rall/Getty Images

It's hard enough to get Americans pumped up to watch a bunch of other country's teams play soccer, but one thing we can all agree on is that the crazy-quilt Pangaea of World Cup anthems is an amazing spectacle to behold. From Shakira's Official FIFA World Cup song "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" to Russell Brand and Robbie Williams' remake of England's unofficial soccer song, "Three Lions," there are a head-spinning array of choices when it comes to soccer soundtracks for the planet's biggest sporting event.

Colombian hip-swiveler Shakira teamed up with South Africa's Freshlyground for the tournament's official song. The propulsive Afro-techno "Waka Waka" has the perfect mix of inspirational lyrics — "The pressure's on, you feel it/ It's time for Africa, your time to shine" — and a raise-the-roof vibe that you can picture pumping out of stereos from Johannesburg to Pittsburgh.

No slouch in the inspiration department, Mr. "I Believe I Can Fly" himself, R. Kelly, also cooked up an official FIFA World Cup anthem with a little ditty he calls "Sign of a Victory." The collabo with the Soweto Spiritual Singers choir — who will perform the song with Kelly at Friday's opening ceremonies — bubbles along on a syncopated, African percussion beat while Kelly sings, "I can feel the spirit of the nation/ And I can feel my wings riding the wind." The choir backs him up with an uplifting, wordless chant under the chorus "That's the sign of a victory." He also manages to incorporate the phrases, "let the games begin," "we can achieve anything, including the impossible," "raise the flag" and "scream like you want to win."

Somalian/Canadian rapper K'Naan also went the inspirational route with his official Coca-Cola anthem, "Wavin' Flag," which has the rising-up-from-oppression vibe of a classic Bob Marley tune. With assists from Will.I.Am and David Guetta, the soaring tune camouflages a song about poverty and oppression in a heart-stirring call to arms to let your banner fly.

Pepsi wasn't about to get aced out of this action, so it recruited Akon and Keri Hilson to make a video with soccer stars Lionel Messi of Argentina and Ivory Coast's Didier Drogba called "Oh Africa," as part of the celebration of the continent's first hosting duty for the global event. It also has the obligatory South African township jive stomp, and like the other songs, is as much about Africa's spot in the sun as it is about sports.

And because there's probably some rule about Bono having to participate in any globally unifying event, the U2 singer hooked up with Beninese singer Angelique Kidjo and John Legend for a thumping, Afro-pop cover of Curtis Mayfield's "Move On Up."

Another cover that was recorded as an unofficial English World Cup anthem is a banging remake of Tears for Fears' "Shout" called "Shout for England," laid down by U.K. rapper Dizzee Rascal and actor James Corden at the behest of former "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell. It has a thundering chorus that adds a thick acid-house beat to the original tune as Rascal spits lyrics to inspire England's soccer stars to victory.

For no apparent reason, New York's We Are Scientists have also offered up a song for England's club, the appropriately named, "Goal! England," a slice of T. Rex-inspired garage rock thunder that features the unforgettable lines, "Kicking the kicking the kicking the kicking the ball/ Kicking it into the goal/ Go, go, go, go go ... England!"

Then there is the official FIFA Mascot song from Cuban-American rapper Pitbull, who hooked up with South African group TKZee and England's Dario G to let the dogs out for the high NRG club banger "Game On." Taking things a little less seriously is U.K. legend Robbie Williams, who formed "The Squad" with comedians Russell Brand, Daniel Baddiel and Frank Skinner to record a remake of England's unofficial soccer song, "Three Lions." The mash of opera, a soaring choir singing, "It's coming home/ Football's coming home," a bouncy, Madness-like ska pop vibe and self-deprecating soccer-centric lyrics about England's chances of regaining football glory make for a lovably comic mess.

Among the other acts on the FIFA-sanctioned soundtrack to the international soccer showdown, Listen Up!: The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Album, are: Nneka ("Viva Africa"), Matisyahu featuring Nameless ("One Day"), Wyclef Jean, J Pre, Jazmine Sullivan and B. Howard ("Ke Nako"), and late South African opera singer Siphiwo Ntshebe (known as the "black Pavarotti") featuring former South African president Nelson Mandela ("Hope").

And of course, if none of these tunes provide the right kick, there's always the unofficial World Cup Song contest, with nearly 400 entries. The top five is currently dominated by England, with Christian singer Gerry Asmus' "It's Our Game," a flowery pop piffle about King George and English pride, holding down the top spot at press time.

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Justin Bieber 'Somebody To Love' Video Premieres Friday

Posted: 10 Jun 2010 01:04 AM PDT

An online sneak peek shows Bieber trading verses, dance moves with mentor Usher.
By Jocelyn Vena


Justin Bieber on the set of his "Somebody To Love" video
Photo: Island Def Jam / Popeater.com

In the past, Justin Bieber has merely teased fans with funky dance moves, but in the new video for his single "Somebody to Love," the teen pop star really lets loose, showing off some impressive choreography.

The full-length clip premieres online Friday, according to Justin's Twitter, but a sneak peek posted on PopEater.com shows Bieber and his mentor, Usher, trading moves. The remix of "Somebody to Love" promises to be a spectacle of dance. Directed by Dave Meyers (Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne) and choreographed by Jamaica, who has also worked on clips by Ciara and Usher, the video features scenes of Bieber dancing with a team of backup dancers in front of a green screen. In other scenes, he's seen hanging out with Usher.

"It's really awesome to be able to work with professional dancers, you know, people that were in, like, ABDC," Bieber says in the video preview. Bieber also brags about getting the thumbs up from his choreographer: "She says that she's proud of me."

"He's killing it!" Jamaica chimes in, adding that she hasn't had to give the young star any corrections.

Instead of focusing on a love interest, as in past Bieber videos like "Baby," Meyers wanted this video to be a little more playful.

"[We're] bringing Justin into the world of dance on this one, giving Justin the chance to integrate to different styles of dance," Meyers says in the video. "So we kind of kept it simple with the art direction, just real graphic and really highlighting the dance. No big story lines, no crowds of people, just real clean."

The tune (not to be confused with tracks of the same name by Leighton Meester or Jefferson Airplane) is a dance track that finds Justin professing his love for a girl, telling her he doesn't need much else — just her.

"It's basically about somebody to love," Justin laughs. "It's cool. It's young. It's nice. I think it's like a universal record."

Are you excited to really see Justin dance in his new video? Let us know in the comments!

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The World Cup Of Rock: MTV News' Global Challenge Begins Friday!

Posted: 10 Jun 2010 03:02 AM PDT

In the spirit of our March Madness competition, we pit rock bands against each other -- fans decide who wins!
By Kyle Anderson and James Montgomery


Photo: Alexander Hassenstein/FIFA/Getty

Every four years, the international community comes together to decide which nation has the most dominant soccer team (or football team, provided that you live anywhere but the United States). The 2010 FIFA World Cup is upon us, and the first matches start in earnest on Friday.

Coincidentally, that's also the day that will see the launch of the 2010 MTV World Cup of Rock tournament. Just as we did with our very popular Musical March Madness matchup, we've taken a huge sporting event and translated it to the music world. And once again, it's up to you the readers to decide which country rocks hardest and best.

The 16 countries that qualified for the World Cup of Rock are grouped into four groups of four teams each. Play will begin on Friday with a matchup between the first two teams, and every day will see a different matchup. Once each team has played the others in its group, the two top seeds from each group will qualify for the bracketed tournament. From there, it's single elimination until one nation is left standing.

Each country will be represented by a contingent of particular artists, but you should consider any group from that particular country eligible for play. The goal of the tournament is to decide just which country rocks hardest and best.

There will be one match every day, with the winners decided by your votes on the MTV Newsroom Blog. Tiebreakers will be decided by the most votes cast for each individual country, so vote for your favorite early and often.

Let's meet the teams!

Group A

France: The French won the World Cup in 1998 and they have another strong chance to score big this year. In order to advance in the World Cup of Rock, they'll have to rely on the likes of Phoenix, Daft Punk, Air and a bevy of better-than-you-think-they-are French hip-hop MCs.

Mexico: The Mexican team has everything: veteran leadership in Carlos Santana, youthful energy from Kinky and an air of big-game cool from Plastilina Mosh.

Nigeria: Powered by Afrobeat (first birthed by the late Fela Kuti and heard everywhere from Talking Heads to Kanye West), these plucky underdogs are capable of anything.

Uruguay: The small South American powerhouse has won two World Cups (including the very first one in 1930) and could be a surprising dark horse this time around. Their representation in the World Cup of Rock essentially consists of one person — Cobra Starship frontman Gabe Saporta — but he's a pretty great guy to have on your front line.

Group B

England: The English do a few things exceptionally well, with soccer and rock just behind drinking and reality television. With Coldplay, Damon Albarn, Muse and Radiohead leading the way, it should be able to assert its dominance early and often.

South Africa: The host nation doesn't have the strongest soccer team but it does have a solid batch of musical representatives, including arena hippie Dave Matthews, prog icon Manfred Mann and tongue-twisting rapper Jean Grae.

South Korea: Though it doesn't have a great shot at the Cup, South Korea has a secret weapon in the World Cup of Rock: His name is Rain (a.k.a. MTV Movie Awards B, and he is a one man dynamo.

United States of America: Easily the favorite, considering that it basically invented rock and roll, and with any number of massive international superstars at its disposal — including the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Foo Fighters and 75 percent of Metallica — there's no reason it shouldn't run the table.

Group C

Brazil: The Brazilian soccer team has won more World Cups than any other nation, and they've done it with varied attacks and dynamic stars. Their World Cup of Rock contingent is similarly eclectic and flashy, with the likes of legendary psychedelic rockers Os Mutantes, manic dance troupe CSS and the savagery of Max Cavalera, the man responsible for Sepultura and Soulfly.

Germany: The three-time champions (and seven-time finalists) are one of the favorites to take home the World Cup, and their band contingent is lead by one of the strongest front lines in all of music: Tokio Hotel. But will goalkeeper David Hasselhoff be able to lead them to victory?

Japan: Unorthodoxy is definitely the order of the day for their musical representatives, with metal mavens Dir en Grey, pop sensation Utada, punk veterans Shonen Knife and sugary power poppers Puffy AmiYumi leading the way.

Spain: The perfect blend of past and future, the Spanish contingent has a powerful figurehead in Julio Iglesias (who actually played professional soccer before becoming a pop star) and bright young stars in Alejandro Sanz, Enrique Iglesias and David Bisbal.

Group D

Argentina: They're one of the odds-on favorites to take home the Cup this year, but they are underdogs in the World Cup of Rock.

Australia: The soccer team is called the Socceroos, but the Rockaroos (clever, huh?) should bulldoze the competition with powerhouses like AC/DC, Wolfmother and Jet.

Denmark: Denmark's soccer team plays a pretty loose game, and so do their rock bands. How do you prepare for Mew, the Raveonettes and Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich all at the same time?

Italy: Italy won the World Cup in 2006, besting France in one of the most memorable finals in history. Can a team of mostly hard-edged groups like Lacuna Coil and Starf---ers lead them to victory in the World Cup of Rock?

Remember, the matchups start on Friday at the MTV Newsroom Blog. So enjoy all of the soccer action for the next month and get behind your favorite team in the World Cup of Rock.

'Thor' Stars Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman Talk Chemistry In New Video

Posted: 10 Jun 2010 06:46 AM PDT

Portman calls beefed-up leading man 'a god' in new video from movie's set.
By Kara Warner


Chris Hemsworth
Photo: Entertainment Tonight

Hot on the heels of the release of the first official photo (and alleged concept art) from "Thor" comes a video report straight from the Santa Fe, New Mexico, set, courtesy of "Entertainment Tonight."

The clip features a charming exchange between two of the film's stars, Chris Hemsworth (Thor) and Natalie Portman (Jane Foster): The duo discuss their chemistry and Hemsworth's impressive build. Portman also expresses delight upon discovering that Hemsworth was on Australia's version of "Dancing With the Stars."

The topic of Hemsworth's toughness and physique are played up in the video, along with a few brief action scenes. "He's a god," Portman says of her co-star, even alluding to his healthy, "big appetite." Later, Portman pokes fun at herself with a fake teaser: "Chris and that little midget girl, starring in Thor!"

Director Kenneth Branagh praised Hemsworth's dedication to the role, saying the actor worked himself into peak condition.

"He took seriously the challenge that had to be taken on by whoever was going to play Thor, to find this combination we wanted of a sort of Herculean strength, and gosh, he's strong," Branagh said. "We've had him doing all sorts of physical feats on it. Some of it's practical — lifting people up, lifting two people up, and doing it for a long time over the course of a day. I sort of said, 'Oh, you've got to get your shirt off. Do you mind?' And he said, 'Do I mind? I spent six months getting into shape for this! No, I don't mind!' "

"It's pretty exciting," Hemsworth says in the clip when asked about stepping into the boots of the storied God of Thunder. "The whole thing is surreal."

Check out everything we've got on "Thor."

For breaking comic book movie news, columns and more — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.

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Bonnaroo-Bound Alice + Olivia Tour Helps Women Affected By Flooding, Oil Spill

Posted: 10 Jun 2010 05:38 AM PDT

Designer Stacey Bendet and crew will provide makeovers to women across the country, including Nashville and the Gulf Coast.
By Akshay Bhansali


Alice + Olivia crew in front of the Airstream Trailer
Photo: MTV News

In eight years, the quirky, perky Stacey Bendet (or "Staceypants" as her friends love to call her) has gone from being homeless and making single pairs of pants for admirers to founding the celeb-adored Alice + Olivia fashion brand. Her women's, children's and upcoming shoe (2011) lines have brought smiles to the faces of women for almost a decade now, including folks like Taylor Swift, Blake Lively and Angelina Jolie. And now MTV News has learned that her undeniable ability to spread joy has Bendet and an eclectic band of artist gal-pals hopping into a retrofitted Alice + Olivia Airstream Trailer and taking their act on the road.

"We are going on a tour all through the Southeast, starting at Bonnaroo," Bendet said. "And we are making people over in every city as we go. We thought it would be a great way to work with all the stores and shops we've worked with since we started. So we are doing pop-up shops, trunk shows and makeovers."

What makes this tour particularly interesting is that in addition to making over everyday women across the country, Bendet and Co. will be hitting cities in Tennessee and on the Gulf Coast, taking time specifically to attend to women affected by recent flooding as well as the notorious Gulf oil spill.

"[From] Bonnaroo, Knoxville, Nashville, and small towns in Alabama we are getting submissions from people that lost their wardrobe in the flood, or [are] going through a really rough time. In Nashville obviously we are focusing on flood victims. People who have lost all of their belongings. Their whole wardrobe. We are going to a beach town in Alabama that's been really affected by the oil spills. We are doing a big block party there right by the beach and we are also doing a couple of makeovers. Then in Miami, we are doing a fashion show at the Fontainebleau, but we are making over someone from the Kristi House there. So we are just trying to bring a little happiness into people's lives in cities across the country. It's kind of like making over America a little bit."

To send off the traveling troupe of women (stylist Cleo Wade, DJs Mia Moretti and Caitlin Moe, photographer Diggy Lloyd and friend Molly Austin), electronic-music icon and friend Moby came out to wish them well, and even christened the voyage with an expansive drawing on the interior wall of the Airstream.

"I met Stacy when she was homeless living behind a dumpster at Arby's just by the entrance to the Holland Tunnel in New Jersey," Moby said. "Then she started a delivery service where she would deliver things all over New York on her Rollerblades. And she made her own pants and at some point someone said, 'Hey those are nice pants. Can you make me some pants?' And so she started making pants for other people. And now she's the proud owner of an Airstream trailer!"

Bendet's Alice + Olivia Tour kicks off at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee, on June 10 and will end in Montauk, New York, on July 11, with stops in Orange Beach, Alabama; Wilmington, North Carolina; and Miami, among other cities.

Lindsay Lohan In Talks To Appear On 'Celebrity Apprentice'

Posted: 10 Jun 2010 04:51 AM PDT

Donald Trump approached Lilo about appearing on the show, according to Lindsay's mom, Dina Lohan.
By Kara Warner


Lindsay and Dina Lohan
Photo: David Aguilera/ BuzzFoto/FilmMagic

Lindsay Lohan has had her share of career and personal setbacks recently. Movie projects going straight to DVD (2009's dud "Labor Pains," for example), being fitted with a SCRAM bracelet stemming from her 2007 DUI arrest, a public and volatile breakup with ex Samantha Ronson ... What is a celebrity with a wilting reputation to do? Turn to reality TV, of course, if Lohan's mother Dina is to be believed. Mama Lohan revealed Thursday (June 10) that her daughter is in talks to appear as a contestant on the next "Celebrity Apprentice," and has been approached by none other than Donald Trump himself.

"Donald approached Lindsay about being on 'Celebrity Apprentice,' so we'll see where it goes," Dina Lohan told People magazine. "I think it's a great idea for her, but Lindsay has two movies coming up ['Machete' and 'Inferno'], so I don't know if Lindsay has time. It may conflict with her schedule."

Dina cited Lindsay's SCRAM bracelet — a device that detects alcohol consumption through the measurement of the wearer's perspiration — and the terms of her probation agreement as potential roadblocks in the way of her participation. "She can't leave L.A., the judge won't even let Lindsay go to Texas to shoot 'Machete,' so I just don't know if it'll work out."

The Donald reportedly approached Lindsay because of his relationship with the Lohan family. "He's a very good friend of the family and he's had our back for years." she said. "He's a great dad, and he would do anything to help us."

The former Disney star is said to be meeting with Trump within the next week to discuss participation on the show, which recently crowned Bret Michaels its latest winner.

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Taylor Swift Says She's Taking A Break From Acting

Posted: 10 Jun 2010 02:04 AM PDT

'I'm making music. That's always been my number-one love,' singer tells MTV News.
By Jocelyn Vena


Taylor Swift
Photo: Frederick Breedon/ WireImage

After nabbing an MTV Movie Awards nomination for her work in "Valentine's Day," and a cameo in "CSI," Taylor Swift has had fans wondering whether she'll hit the big or small screen again soon. When we caught up with her, Swift said if a great role were to come her way, she wouldn't pass it up.

"It's been so cool to be able to be a part of things that have been really fun, like being in 'Valentine's Day' and getting to guest star in 'CSI,' " Swift recently told MTV News. "I feel like I get to do these little mini-movies when I make music videos, so that kind of fulfills that little need or desire. But, if I ever get time, I might like to [act again]."

Still, Swift was clear about her main focus. "I'm not making movies right now. I'm making music," she said. "That's always been my number-one love."

Indeed, Taylor has been busy working on a new album, which she teased, last month, would revisit some familiar territory.

"[The new album] is going great actually," Swift revealed. "I've been writing it for the last two years, so this summer it's all about the finishing touches and getting in there in the studio and recording the last couple songs." Asked what her inspiration was for the upcoming project, Taylor said the answer should be obvious: "Boys and love."

Should Taylor star in more romantic comedies? Tell us in the comments!

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'Transformers 3' Director Promises 'Killer Ending,' 3-D For Trilogy's Finale

Posted: 10 Jun 2010 06:30 AM PDT

'As a trilogy, it really ends,' Michael Bay says.
By Kara Warner


Michael Bay on the set of "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen"
Photo: Jaimie Trueblood

In one of the more un-surprising bits of news released this week, director Michael Bay confirmed that his third Transformers movie will be released in 3-D. The blockbuster-making explosions enthusiast also revealed they've done away with the highly criticized "dorky comedy," named the film's new villain and promised a solid ending to the trilogy.

"One thing we're getting rid of is what I call the 'dorky comedy,' " Bay told USA Today on Thursday (June 10). "So the twins, the two bumbling, slang-spewing robots? They're basically gone," he said, and singled out actor John Turturro (Agent Simmons), who will provide comic relief for the film.

Loyal fans of the '80s source material will be excited to learn that the film's villain is Shockwave, the one-eyed robot recognizable by his signature laser cannon, who became dictator of the Transformers' home world of Cybertron after the other Autobots and Decepticons journeyed to Earth.

Major plot details are naturally under wraps, but Bay hinted that the story involves the space race between Russia and the U.S. and the Transformers' role in it being one of the planet's most dangerous secrets. "The movie is more of a mystery," Bay says. "It ties in what we know as history growing up as kids with what really happened."

For those who still have issues with the much-maligned sequel, Bay said he accepts "some of the criticism," but cited the film's tight production schedule and quick turnaround time as reasons why certain elements of the film didn't work. "It was very hard to put [the sequel] together that quickly after the writers' strike [of 2007-08]," Bay said.

He promises fans a "final crescendo" and fitting end to the trilogy, however. "It's not three multiple endings," the director said. "As a trilogy, it really ends," he says. "It could be rebooted again, but I think it has a really killer ending."

Check out everything we've got on "Transformers 3."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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