MTV News |
- Lil Wayne Producer Bangladesh Explains How '6'7" ' Came To Be
- Captain Beefheart Dead At 69
- 'Avatar' Director Has 'Great Ideas' For Sequel, Sam Worthington Says
- Lil Kim Says She Once Recorded With Nicki Minaj
- Captain Beefheart's Death Mourned On Twitter
- Wolfgang Gartner Calls Grammy Nomination 'A Total Surprise'
- Kim Kardashian's Music With The-Dream Will Have 'Attitude,' Ciara Says
- Lil Wayne And Eminem: Relive The MCs' Past 'SNL' Glory
- Matt Damon Says Future Of 'Bourne' Franchise Is Uncertain
- Katy Perry Producer Likes <i>Teenage Dream</i>'s Grammy Chances
- Ciara Is 'Very Proud' Of <i>Basic Instinct</i>
- 'Tron Legacy': The Reviews Are In!
- Justin Bieber's 'Karate Kid' Song Is Eligible For An Oscar
- 'Never Say Never' Director Was 'Nervous' About Justin Bieber Flick
- 30 Seconds To Mars' 'Hurricane' Video Uncensored And Closely Analyzed
- Diplomats Talk Kanye West's 'Christmas In Harlem'
- 'Tron Legacy' And Jeff Bridges: Behind Film's Most Challenging Effect
- Racy Demi Lovato Photos Leak Online
| Lil Wayne Producer Bangladesh Explains How '6'7" ' Came To Be Posted: 17 Dec 2010 03:49 AM PST 'It's unfortunate that political things happen and it messes up the music of creative people,' beatmaker says of his financial issues with Cash Money.
Huh? That was the collective response when it was discovered that Lil Wayne's new track "6'7" " was produced by Bangladesh, the musical maestro behind Weezy's "A Milli." Ever since "A Milli" became a phenomenon, Bangladesh expressed frustration with Cash Money's financial operations and the two hadn't worked together.
But after the producer crafted the track that would eventually become "6'7"," things began shifting in place for a reunion. According to Bangladesh, Gee Roberson (an executive at Atlantic Records), requested music for T.I.'s album. "I already know how T.I. is and how he is and how he thinks," Bangladesh told MTV News, explaining that the two parties, while friendly, haven't been able to connect musically in the past. "I had given up on sending him music. You know, sometimes everything ain't for people. And even though it might be great, it might not be their direction." Turns out, it wasn't — but Roberson had a suggestion. " 'Wayne will kill this, man,' " Bangladesh recalls the executive, who also co-manages Drake, saying. " 'This is Wayne.' He was right. He was absolutely right." That conversation was the starting point between the producer and Wayne reuniting. "It was the first step to resolving the relationship among each other," he said. "Not the business side of it. Like, everything that happened and everything I said [before] was true. But to move on, you have to see progression. So I had to learn that there was things that had changed over in the camp and the business department. Once I confirmed that from reliable sources, I could move on. And it really has never been a Wayne issue. I f---ed with him. It's just, it's unfortunate that political things happen and it messes up the music of creative people where we can't feed the consumer what they really want to hear." What do you think of Wayne's new single? Share your reviews in the comments. Related Artists |
| Posted: 17 Dec 2010 03:31 AM PST Avant-garde musician and visual artist battled multiple sclerosis since the '90s.
Don Van Vliet, the man known around the world as Captain Beefheart, died Friday (December 17), according to his manager. He was 69. The cause of Van Vliet's death was not immediately known, though several outlets were reporting it was due to complications from multiple sclerosis, which he had battled since the 1990s. Van Vliet was an accomplished avant-garde musician and visual artist, who along with a constantly rotating crew of fellow oddballs — his handpicked "Magic Band" — bent the rules, melded genres and thoroughly weirded out much of mainstream America for nearly four decades. The origin of his famous Captain Beefheart stage name remains somewhat cloudy (some say it came from a script he wrote with childhood friend/ rival Frank Zappa), but the impact it would have on the worlds of music and art is not. Beginning in 1967, with the release of Beefheart and the Magic Band's seminal Safe as Milk, and rolling on through other classic bizarre gems like 1969's Trout Mask Replica (which melded elements of blues, jazz and avant-garde spoken word and was named by Rolling Stone as the 58th Greatest Album of All Time in 2003), '72's bar-friendly Clear Spot and '78's Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller), Beefheart forged a territory that was uniquely, unquestionably his — record sales (and the mainstream media) be damned. In the process, he earned a legion of loyal followers — including Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore, Nirvana's Kurt Cobain, the White Stripes' Jack White (who, along with his band the Dead Weather, filmed their "Treat Me Like Your Mother" video near Van Vliet's childhood home in Lancaster, California) and "The Simpsons" creator Matt Groening — and, along with a handful of other acts, is credited with ushering in the genre we now commonly refer to as "alternative rock." After releasing Ice Cream for Crow in 1982, Van Vliet all but retired from the music industry (though the Magic Band would continue on without him), focusing instead on his other passion: painting. He would spend the remainder of his days living in Northern California with his wife, Jan, creating abstract-expressionist works, which showed often at New York's Michael Werner Gallery. By the 1990s, he had largely disappeared from the public eye, save for a few appearances, most prominently in Anton Corbijn's film "Some Yo Yo Stuff," where he appeared to be frail and weakened. In a statement released to Rolling Stone, the Michael Werner Gallery called Van Vliet "a complex and influential figure in the visual and performing arts" and added that his music and art will live on as his lasting legacy. "After two decades in the spotlight as an avant-garde composer and performer, Van Vliet retired from performing to devote himself wholeheartedly to painting and drawing," the statement read, in part. "Like his music, Van Vliet's lush paintings are the product of a truly rare and unique vision." Share your well-wishes for Van Vliet's family in the comments. |
| 'Avatar' Director Has 'Great Ideas' For Sequel, Sam Worthington Says Posted: 17 Dec 2010 05:51 AM PST Actor behind Jake Sully tells MTV News he talks to James Cameron 'all the time,' and expects more details in 2011.
At this time last year, most movie talk revolved around "Avatar" and its record-shattering box-office numbers on its way to being anointed the most successful film of all time. This year, however, all the discussion has revolved around the inevitable "Avatar" sequels
Fox has announced there will be two and that director James Cameron will shoot at least one of them partially underwater. When MTV News caught up with star Sam Worthington on the set of his new thriller "Man on a Ledge," the in-demand actor (seriously, check out his IMDb lineup for proof) said he's been in close contact with Cameron about follow-ups but that specifics will start to take shape next year. "I talk to [Cameron] all the time," Worthington said. "I talked to him last week. I think at the moment he's still doing the ['Avatar'] bible, the book, and I think the book will then inspire where he wants to take it," the "Clash of the Titans" star explained. "He's got great ideas; what he told me about, where he wants to set it, things he wants to explore. We'll probably talk next year, and then he can fill us in on where, personally, he wants to take it, where emotionally he wants to take it." Regarding the sequel's underwater setting, Worthington said only some of the action will take place in the water. "[Cameron] is going to explore that [underwater] world," he said. "It won't fully take place underwater but he's definitely going to explore — same as the mountains, he can explore more, outer space [as well] — it's up to him," Worthington added. "He created the world." And finally, we asked Worthington about the future of Jake Sully, specifically whether audiences will ever see his human form onscreen again. Worthington said he had "no idea." What do you want to see in the "Avatar" sequels? Tell us in the comments! Check out everything we've got on "Avatar." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| Lil Kim Says She Once Recorded With Nicki Minaj Posted: 17 Dec 2010 03:49 AM PST 'I saw her coming in the game, like, 'All you chicks that been in the game for 10 years, move over,' ' Kim tells Hot 97.
To hear Lil Kim tell it, she and Nicki Minaj were set to be teammates instead of rivals. The Brooklyn rapper appeared on New York hip-hop station Hot 97 on Friday (December 17) and told host Angie Martinez that she was affiliated with Cash Money at one point and recorded with Nicki. "A lot of people might not know this, but me and [Cash Money co-CEO] Slim were very good friends," Kim explained. "Very good friends for four or five years. My thing is this: I haven't been doing music like that for a second and I looked at her buzz as a way in for me. I'm like, 'OK, this is a good thing. This a way for me to kind of come back in.' " After they recorded, however, Kim said the feedback to her verses was better than her younger peer's. Then, she said, the subliminal shots toward her from Nicki Minaj began. Kim, though, said she never had any reason to dislike the upstart. "I saw her coming up," she said. "I saw her coming in the game, like, 'All you chicks that been in the game for 10 years, move over. Y'all need to sit down.' And this and that. I thought that was disrespectful." Kim downplayed their current frosty relationship, saying the Queens femcee was obviously influenced by the Queen Bee. "I'm not looking for beef," she said. "I'm not looking for someone to start a war with. That's not me. That's not what I do." What do you think about Kim's thoughts on Nicki? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists |
| Captain Beefheart's Death Mourned On Twitter Posted: 17 Dec 2010 05:59 AM PST Linda Perry, Penn Jillette, Akron Family and more remember late avant-garde icon.
Avant-garde artist Captain Beefheart was given a heartfelt e-sendoff by several celebrity fans after he died Friday (December 17) at age 69. After news of the passing of Beefheart, who was also known as Don Van Vliet, circled the world, a range of high-profile tweeters took to the social-networking site to type tributes to the late Magic Band leader and music game-changer. Former 4 Non Blondes frontwoman and singer/songwriter Linda Perry wrote, "Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band ... RIP January 15 1941 - December 17 2010." She also included a link to the melancholic doo-wop track "I'm Glad" from the 1967 album Safe as Milk. Comedian and illusionist Penn Jillette tweeted, "Captain Beefheart has died. Another inspiration & hero gone. He's been painting, no music for a while, but I still listen all the time." Beefheart was close to childhood friend and fellow artistic original Frank Zappa, whose children shared tender missives via Twitter in the wake of his passing. "Just heard about Captain Beefheart. Sad day indeed," Diva Zappa tweeted. "R.I.P. Captain Beefheart...sad day," Zappa's son Ahmet wrote, before tacking on his favorite memory of the late artist. "Best Captain Beefheart moment. I was on the phone with him a few years ago and he asked me 'what about a platypus in a briefcase?' Love!" Since Beefheart's entry into music and art more than four decades ago, his genre-melding approach has influenced a new generation of folk/pop appreciators and freak-flag wavers, many of whom paid tribute to the star on Twitter. "R.I.P. Don Van Vliet aka Captain Beefheart. We wish you safe passage and return," indie collective Akron Family tweeted. "RIP DVV, my mum got me into you when i was 15. Lx," read a message posted on Scottish band Camera Obscura's Twitter account that included a link to "Call on Me." Experimental upstart Zola Jesus tweeted about how Beefheart's music is still making an impact and being shared among young artists, writing, "Gave my brother my old, worn down copy of Trout Mask Replica before I moved as a thank you to introducing me to his music when I was far too young. Nothing he did was a mistake, there were no accidents in his music. Only sheer invention, passion... dear god, why does the world keep losing such important people? Who will fill their shoes? My heart is heavy for you, Don Van Vliet!" Share your memories of Captain Beefheart in the comments. Related Artists |
| Wolfgang Gartner Calls Grammy Nomination 'A Total Surprise' Posted: 17 Dec 2010 04:53 AM PST DJ/producer is readying a new album and his first official music video.
After an impressive year boasting strong singles "Conscindo" (with Mark Knight), "Undertaker" and "Animal Rights" (with deadmau5), Austin, Texas, electro-house maestro Wolfgang Gartner was particularly ecstatic when we caught up with him this week.
Gartner, born Joey Youngman, is nominated for a 2011 Grammy in the Best Remixed Recording (Non Classical) category for his mix of house-music producer Andy Caldwell's "Funk Nasty" (featuring vocals by Gram'ma Funk). In February, he will face off against Morgan Page's remix of Nadia Ali's "Fantasy," David Guetta's mix of Madonna's "Revolver," Mike Rizzo's mix of Brazilian legend Sergio Mendes' "Orpheus" and the Dirty South and Axwell mix of Temper Trap's "Sweet Disposition." "It was a total surprise to me," Gartner said. "I didn't even know that it was Grammy nomination time. Somebody on Twitter said, 'Congratulations on your Grammy nomination,' and I ran over to my computer and looked on the site, and there it was. Yeah, it's awesome. Obviously, it's a milestone to be nominated for a Grammy, especially [with] other nominees I have so much respect for." While the Grammy nod caps an already-colossal year for the DJ/producer, Gartner isn't planning to slow down. Next week, he drops Space Junk, a 12-track studio effort full of typically sinister, melody-driven electro-house bangers along with some new sounds. "The response has been great," he said of Space Junk. "We sent out the promos. I know a bunch of people are playing it so far: Tiësto, Eric Morillo, Steve Angello. It's a little bit different to the stuff that people would expect from me as the traditional 'Wolfgang' sound, but I think it's one of the best things I've ever done. "A lot of my fans want me to re-create the same sound over and over again. They even say it on Facebook and social networking. They'll say: 'Please just keep making songs in the style of "Fire Power" and "Undertaker." ' You can't do that. You can only do it so many times before you hit a wall and you're regurgitating old ideas. I feel like I've made something fresh that hasn't been done before that still has my sound in it but it's just a little bit beyond the boundaries of what I normally do. So I'm happy with it." And with a new album on the way, fans will also be happy to know the Wolf is gonna be dropping his first official music video soon, though not for a track from the upcoming Space Junk. In fact, it's for his popular joint "Illmerica." "I just got and approved the video for it last night, and I guess it's the first real music video that's been made for one of my tracks. There have been little low-budget cheesy ones done before, but this one tells a story. It kind of blew my mind, actually, when I saw it. It captures the essence of the song into the video. I don't want to go into too much detail and give it away, but it's awesome, and I'm really looking forward to it." Will you be pulling for Wolfgang at the Grammys? Let us know in the comments! |
| Kim Kardashian's Music With The-Dream Will Have 'Attitude,' Ciara Says Posted: 17 Dec 2010 04:02 AM PST Singer and producer Tricky Stewart talk about the reality siren's stab at music.
Glamour girl Kim Kardashian already has reality starlet, unwitting adult-film actress and red-carpet regular on her résumé as a Hollywood siren. According to the diva's good friend Ciara, Kardashian is now looking to make her mark in the music game — and CiCi is down to lend a hand. "I told her if she needs me, I'm here," Ciara smiled about giving her curvy friend some crooning tips. The "Speechless" songstress said Kardashian isn't trying to change the game, but is rather just embarking on a fun venture.
"She really, really is fascinated with the music-video process and stuff like that. She's a very, very glamorous girl. She really loves that whole idea, and so she joked about [it] like, 'I wanna shoot a music video ... but I don't want people to take it too serious. I would just like to have fun with it,' " Ciara said. Kardashian may have just been messing around initially, but with the encouragement of her A-list friends and access to chart-topping hitmakers, Ciara said the reality vixen decided to take the plunge. "Actually Dream had reached out to me too, and I was like, 'Hey, I'm gonna hit her up.' I know she talked about music before. She wasn't all the way sure of it, but I said, 'Hey, give it a try, go for it. If you like it, you like it. If you don't, you don't.' The cool thing is that you're able to even experiment with that. Dream is a really, really great producer and writer, so that's really cool that you get the moment to do that. So go for it," the "Gimmie Dat" singer said. "We had a lunch and we talked about it a little bit, and so I think she's gonna give it a shot." Hit genie and record executive Tricky Stewart, who collaborated with The-Dream on Ciara's latest release, Basic Instinct, said the "Love King" artist has already hit the studio with Kardashian, but the details are being kept under wraps. "I know that she recorded, but it's under lock and key what they're doing," he explained. Ciara thinks Kardashian's music will reflect the star's feminine style revved up with some butt-kicking flair. "I think ... she's gonna have a little pop and I think a little attitude. She's a girly girl [kind of] girl too, but she still has attitude," she said. "I think it's gonna be all that in her music." What do you think of Kim Kardashian getting in the studio with The-Dream? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| Lil Wayne And Eminem: Relive The MCs' Past 'SNL' Glory Posted: 17 Dec 2010 03:17 AM PST Before the duo hit the 'Saturday Night Live' stage, we look back on the rappers' previous guest turns.
Lil Wayne and Eminem are set to appear as musical guests on "Saturday Night Live" this weekend. Em and Wayne collaborated earlier this year on singles — Em on Wayne's "Drop the World" and Wayne on Em's "No Love" — and there's a possibility they'll perform both songs on the show. But this is far from either artist's first tour of duty at Studio 8H. Here, we take a quick look back at the rappers' past 'SNL' glory. September 2008: Lil Wayne appeared one time, back in '08, in an episode hosted by Olympian Michael Phelps. At the time, his album Tha Carter III was one of the year's biggest sellers. Backed by the 'SNL' band and his Cash Money cohort (and current Young Money president) Mack Maine, Wayne performed "Got Money." Decked out in a black leather biker jacket and violet-colored skinny jeans, Weezy ran through the song before introducing Mack, who closed the set. Wayne returned for "Lollipop," dressed in a white V-neck T-shirt and grey jeans. He sang with a green-and-white electric guitar strapped to his torso and noodled his way through a few (out-of-key) chords toward the song's close. October 2004: Em's history with 'SNL' stretches back to 1999, and he would continue to pop up on the sketch show over the years. In 2004, he appeared on an episode hosted by Kate Winslet. Wearing an oversize Detroit Tigers jersey, and flanked by D12 member Proof, Eminem performed the hilarious, bouncy "Just Lose It." In a more serious moment, he also rapped "Mosh." Dressed in all black, he passionately spit his George Bush-protest song, imploring viewers not to re-elect the U.S. president come Election Day, which was just weeks away. Then in May 2002, Em guest-starred on an episode hosted by Kirsten Dunst, doing only one song this time, "Without Me." The now-deceased Proof was Em's hypeman on this stop too. Em also showed off his acting chops — his "8 Mile" was only a few months from its November release — taking part in an 'SNL' sketch, in which he played himself. October 2000: In an episode hosted by Rob Lowe, Em made his first solo 'SNL' appearance. The Detroit MC was riding high off the success of The Marshall Mathers LP that year, and he performed two of the album's biggest hits, "The Real Slim Shady" and "Stan." For "Stan," he brought along Dido, who sang the song's hook as Em waved his hands side to side. October 1999: Eminem turned up on 'SNL' for the very first time alongside his mentor Dr. Dre back in the fall of 1999, in an episode hosted by Norm Macdonald. Dre brought Marshall along for a performance of "Forgot About Dre." In baggy jeans, backward cap and puffy, goose-down jacket, Em spit his multisyllabic flow and bounced along to the catchy Dre beat. What do you hope Wayne and Em will perform on "SNL" Tell us in the comments! Related Artists |
| Matt Damon Says Future Of 'Bourne' Franchise Is Uncertain Posted: 17 Dec 2010 03:49 AM PST 'We explained to them that our character isn't like James Bond,' the star says of studio's desire to re-cast Jason Bourne.
Earlier this year, fans of the highly successful "Bourne" franchise got some surprising news when Universal announced its plans to make "The Bourne Legacy" with or without star Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass. Then in October, the studio announced the next installment would be written and directed by Tony Gilroy, who penned the first three "Bourne" films. MTV News caught up with Damon during promotion for his awards-favorite "True Grit," and asked the actor whether he'd talked to Gilroy about plans for the next chapter.
"I have no idea what he has planned," Damon said of Gilroy. "But he's a very smart guy, so I'm sure it's going to be good. I do know that whatever he's doing won't preclude Paul [Greengrass] and I from coming back and doing ours," he added. (It's still unclear whether Damon and Greengrass will return.) Damon explained that what Universal wants to do with the films is build a lasting franchise — one in which other actors besides Damon can step into the lead role. Of course, Damon and Greengrass aren't exactly onboard with that idea. "What they ultimately want is a franchise that can kind of go on and on. We explained to them that our character isn't like James Bond," Damon said. "You can't send him on a mission. There's character development, there's an arc that the character has traveled through the three movies. You don't just start over at the beginning of every movie," he continued. "So I think what they're looking for is a way to build that in so that they can continue without Paul and me eventually." Earlier this year, Damon said he would consider stepping into Bourne's shoes again, but only if the picture was helmed by Greengrass. "I love the character. I love the stories," Damon said. "But only if Paul Greengrass says he will direct again. So far, though, he's decided not to. I'd definitely say yes if he went for it. I know he would have a great story, and it would protect the legacy of what we created." What do you think about a "Bourne" movie without Matt Damon? Who should play Jason Bourne? Tell us in the comments! Check out everything we've got on "True Grit." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos |
| Katy Perry Producer Likes <i>Teenage Dream</i>'s Grammy Chances Posted: 17 Dec 2010 02:10 AM PST 'Being nominated is great, but winning is even better,' Tricky Stewart tells MTV News of Album of the Year nod.
Despite debuting at #1 on the Billboard albums chart and spawning three massive hit singles, some in the industry were surprised earlier this month when Katy Perry's Teenage Dream grabbed a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year.
Tricky Stewart was not one of them. "You know, I did four songs on that record, so I'm really proud of it," he told MTV News. "And not just because it's [nominated in] the Album of the Year category, but because Dr. Luke did an amazing job on the singles and Stargate did an amazing job on the singles ... but all of us together, we put that album together, and I think it's pretty flawless." And while, at this point, Grammy noms are nothing new to the super-producer — this marks the second-consecutive year he's in the running for Album of the Year (Beyoncé's I Am ... Sasha Fierce was nominated at last year's ceremony) and he's been up for Song of the Year twice in the last three years (for Rihanna's "Umbrella" and B's "Single Ladies") — he's in no way taking the honor lightly. After all, these kinds of things don't happen all that often, if they happen at all. "It's tremendous honor ... and when you get acknowledged like that by your peers, it's always great. You never know when it's going to happen and nothing is promised, so I take that very highly," he smiled. "I'm very thankful to Katy for reaching out to me and giving me the opportunity to be a part of [the album], because most people don't hear my music and go, 'You're the perfect person for Katy Perry.' She took a shot with me and really let me get in there." So while some may doubt Teenage Dream's Album of the Year credentials, Stewart isn't listening to the naysayers. In fact, even though it's up against the likes of Eminem's Recovery and Lady Gaga's The Fame Monster, he likes Dream's chances. "Being nominated is great, but winning is even better. I hope we win ... we'll see what happens," he laughed. "Everyone that's in that category deserves to win. They've all done it, so to say I want to win more than the next person wants to win is selfish. I believe everyone deserves it, but I hope we get it." Are you pulling for Katy Perry at the Grammys? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| Ciara Is 'Very Proud' Of <i>Basic Instinct</i> Posted: 17 Dec 2010 04:02 AM PST 'This is when the fun really starts to kick in and starts to get turned up,' CiCi says of releasing latest album.
With her fourth album on shelves, there is one word that sums up what Ciara is feeling right now: pride. The ATL princess' latest effort, Basic Instinct, landed on shelves Tuesday, and when MTV News caught up with the songstress, who was hanging out in the studio with hit architect Tricky Stewart, she was super amped that the album was available for mass consumption.
"I'm so excited. I'm very, very, very proud of this record, and I've always said out of all of my albums, this is the one that's most dedicated to my fans," she said of the collection of snappy, sultry jams that includes "Ride" and "Speechless." The R&B star said the album's arrival is just the start of the good times, chatting about heading out on tour and shooting more videos. "I told Tricky, I'm like, 'Releasing the record is the start of the process.' I'm just now starting my promos and just starting to get into the groove, and it's just really important that my fans get to hear the music," she said. "The journey is just beginning in my mind, that's how I feel. This is when the fun really starts to kick in and starts to get turned up." While the "Gimmie Dat" hitmaker is brimming with pride, she's also keyed up about fans turning up the album and joining the fun. "For me, I'm just really, really excited for my fans to have the record," she said. "I'm very, very, very, very happy with the way that it came out." Are you feeling Ciara's latest album? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| 'Tron Legacy': The Reviews Are In! Posted: 17 Dec 2010 09:20 AM PST Critics call Disney's reboot/sequel a 'catchy popcorn pleasure' that is 'destined to split audiences.'
It's been a good year for studios that waited three decades to update old-school flicks. In April, Warner Bros. gave 1981's "Clash of the Titans" a coat of CGI splendor and ended up with a film that grossed almost $500 million worldwide. Can Disney, which has resurrected 1982's computer-world-based adventure film "Tron" for a new generation, mirror the success of "Clash"? At this point, at least, "Tron Legacy" is receiving far kinder reviews than "Clash." That doesn't mean, of course, that "Tron" can top the $61 million domestic opening of the latter. Disney's 3-D film is predicted to land somewhere in the $40-45 million range. Will it defy expectations? Will positive word of mouth spread? Is the movie worth a trip to the theater on opening weekend? Check out what the critics are saying about "Tron Legacy" and decide for yourself.
The Story The Comparison to the Original The Effects The Dissenters The Final Word Check out everything we've got on "Tron Legacy." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Justin Bieber's 'Karate Kid' Song Is Eligible For An Oscar Posted: 17 Dec 2010 08:26 AM PST 'Never Say Never' joins tunes by Gwyneth Paltrow, Christina Aguilera in the running for Original Song category.
Earlier this year, Justin Bieber set tweenage hearts aflutter when he teamed with Jaden Smith to record "Never Say Never," the theme to Smith's "Karate Kid" reboot. And now, he's hoping to do the same for Oscar voters. Earlier this week, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences — the governing body of the Academy Awards — released its list of the 41 songs eligible for the Original Song category at the 83rd annual awards, and Bieber made the cut. "Never Say Never" is in the running against the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow's "Coming Home" and "Me and Tennessee" (both from her upcoming "Country Strong" film) and a trio of songs from Christina Aguilera's "Burlesque." Though Bieber made the eligibility list, the tune's nomination is no surefire bet: Movie clips featuring each song will be screened for voting members of the Academy's Music Branch on January 6, and it will be up to them to select the field of nominees. Nominations will be announced on January 25 at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. According to the Academy, in order for a work to be deemed eligible for the Original Song category, it must "consist of words and music, both of which are original and written specifically for the film," and "a clearly audible, intelligible, substantive rendition of both lyric and melody must be used in the body of the film, or as the first music cue in the end credits." Bieber and Smith's song is played over the end credits of "The Karate Kid." The 83rd Academy Awards will be broadcast live from the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on Sunday, February 27. 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. Related Photos Related Artists |
| 'Never Say Never' Director Was 'Nervous' About Justin Bieber Flick Posted: 17 Dec 2010 01:32 AM PST '[It's] always scary when you try to show someone the story of their life,' Jon Chu tells MTV News of screening for teen star.
In February fans will finally get the chance to see Justin Bieber's long-awaited "Never Say Never." And the flick's director, Jon Chu, recently dished to MTV News that things are coming along fine as he puts the finishing touches on the February 11 release.
"Oh, we stand pretty tall. It's nuts! This is a world that I have never experienced before," he laughed to MTV News about the 3-D film. Chu, who was promoting the DVD release of "Step Up 3D," said getting the fans' support has been invaluable. "Again it's like dance, where music tells the story. It's really interesting and his fans have been amazing, shooting him in 3-D in Madison Square Garden, exploring his life, going to his hometown. We're almost done with our cut right now and I'm really proud of it. I think people are going to be surprised about the story that they're going to get. Something is really special." Bieber tweeted about seeing the film recently and gave it his seal of approval. And Chu admitted to us that he's feeling the pressure now to make the best possible film. "I mean, I'm always nervous. We're always trying to make our movies better," he explained. "We're never done with it though. I just keep going until they tell me I've run out of time. So [Justin] got to see it this week, which was really exciting and he loved it, which is always scary when you try to show someone the story of their life, but he's been very supportive, he and his family and his team. I'm excited to share it with the world and show another side of 3-D. With 'Step Up 3D,' we learned a lot of lessons and we discovered a lot of things, and it's just the beginning." Are you excited to see Justin's "Never Say Never" movie next year? Tell us in the comments! Related Photos Related Artists |
| 30 Seconds To Mars' 'Hurricane' Video Uncensored And Closely Analyzed Posted: 17 Dec 2010 12:55 AM PST The 'full-length, explicit director's cut' of the epic video premiered on Thursday.
On Thursday, after two weeks of wrangling, protesting and explaining, 30 Seconds to Mars finally unveiled the "full-length explicit director's cut" (as frontman Jared Leto put it) of their epic "Hurricane" video, which, oddly enough, ended up being two seconds shorter than the version that premiered on MTV.com last month. Obviously, that's not the only difference between the two videos — we bet you can guess which one features shots of nipple clamps — so we've decided to watch both side by side and take note of all the uncensored action. That includes all the shenanigans you'd probably expect (Leather! Breasts! A woman dressed as a patent-leather horse!) and some you might not (like the mysteriously disappearing camera at Leto's bedside). So here's a breakdown of all the naughtiness in the uncensored version, compiled after repeated viewings and complete with time codes for your viewing pleasure. Now, if you'll excuse us, we've got to go take a long, long shower. 0:55: Shot of a woman handcuffed to a chair. 1:08: Silhouette of same woman, standing, hands cuffed behind her back. 1:21: Handcuffs hanging on what appears to be a towel rack, shot of woman on all fours, ball gag in mouth 1:41: Leto lying in bed, Fujifilm Instax mini 7 camera (seen at the 1:55 mark of the MTV.com version of the video) is absent from his bedside table. 2:25: Split-second shot of woman throwing her head back in agony, ecstasy, or, more probably, both. 3:03: Nipples! 3:44: A man wearing a leather hood leads a woman in a patent-leather "horse" getup with a bullwhip. This shot is censored in the MTV.com version of the clip. 6:08: A quick montage of shots: a telephone, a roach scurrying, a pair of handcuffs dangling off a urinal, a woman spitting in another woman's mouth. Oddly enough, only the shot of the handcuffs is censored in the MTV version. 7:08: A pair of women wearing tassles on their breasts, bereft of the red bar used in the MTV version. Also, there is a quick scene of a woman stuffing a vibrator in another woman's mouth — cut from the edited version. 9:20: The infamous shot of a woman's finger "running over other woman's bottom in g-string" makes an appearance. 9:23: Shot of woman grabbing her breasts. 9:33: Quick shot of various S&M gear — masks, gloves, ball gag — laid out on bed is cut into the video. 9:53: Another quick (almost subliminal) message is inserted: "Find the Argus Apocraphex." Its meaning isn't exactly clear, but 30 STM have been working the phrase into their various projects for years now. 9:59: Shannon Leto stumbles across a pair of extremely nude women on the street. Not surprisingly, in the edited version, this shot is replaced with one of the band's "Triad" symbol. 10:06: The uncensored scene of a woman with a pair of feather fans, wearing only pasties on her nipples, is shown. 11:06: A montage of naughtiness: the same shot of the woman on all fours, Leto biting a woman and squeezing her breasts (which is censored in the MTV version), a woman spitting in another woman's mouth (also censored), a shot of a woman in chains lying on a bed, followed by an establishing shot of the character "Rosewood" seated at a desk. Strangely, in the MTV version of the clip, the shot of the handcuffs dangling from the urinal — which was earlier cut — is inserted in place of the woman on all fours. 11:27: Even more uncensored naughtiness, including scenes of simulated sex between two women. 11:44: The woman with the feather fans appears once again. 11:54: An exterior shot of two topless women, seen through windows. In the MTV version, black bars are subtly placed across the windows to obscure her chest. 11:56: Rosewood exposes his (her?) breasts. This, obviously, is censored in the MTV version. 12:13: During Leto's climactic fight scene, images of women in S&M gear and nipple clamps are quickly shown. The majority of these also appear in the "censored" version, including images that were previously cut, like the man leading the woman dressed as a horse, and a woman stuffing a vibrator in another woman's mouth. 12:33: An extended, and unedited, montage of the video's key scenes is shown. Nudity galore. Related Artists |
| Diplomats Talk Kanye West's 'Christmas In Harlem' Posted: 17 Dec 2010 02:22 AM PST Dipset's Jim Jones tells MTV News carol collabo with Chicago MC makes sense given the title: 'If I was Kanye I would've called us too.'
On Thursday, Kanye West released the festive song "Christmas In Harlem" featuring CyHi The Prynce and Teyana Taylor with a local twist. Harlemites and Diplomat members Cam'ron, Jim Jones and Vado joined in on the carol along with Musiq and G.O.O.D. Music MCs Pusha T and Big Sean. (Taylor also hails from Uptown.)
"I didn't know nothing about it, I'm just getting hip to that right now but it's simple though," Jim Jones told MTV News when asked how the track came together. "Sh--, if I was Kanye I would've called us too. It don't make sense if they from Chicago, they would've made 'Christmas in Chicago' then right?" The Dips began releasing Yuletide tracks like "Ballin' on Christmas" in 2006 off their A Dipset X-Mas LP. As for collaborating with West on the Hit-Boy-produced holiday track, Jones said fans can thank Cam'ron. "Cam called me, sent me the beat, I did my part, sent it back to Cam and he took care of the rest of the business," Jimmy said. And while the collaboration is a treat for rap fans' digital Christmas stockings, it does bring up the most recent rift between Cam'ron and Kanye. In September, Cam'ron and Jones remixed West's "Runaway" and Cam spit the following lyrics: "And Kanye, you a sucka n---a, dissed Dame so my attitude is f--- the n---a/ Sucked off Jigga, how you gonna live with that?/ Took the beat, now come get it back." "I couldn't tell you what that was about but I know Cam and Don C are like best friends," Jimmy said of the Dipset leader's relationship with one of Kanye's managers. "We've actually known Kanye and them for over 10 years from some of our earlier shows when we first got into the music industry so we have a great rapport with them more than anything else. "I don't think people took what we did so serious more than it was [just the] art of the music that we do," he continued. "I guess Cam had something on his mind but it wasn't really a life-or-death situation. And I know Kanye's a very smart person, he's got a great spirit, so it's great that he chose to look past anything that was going on. I appreciate it." Related Artists |
| 'Tron Legacy' And Jeff Bridges: Behind Film's Most Challenging Effect Posted: 16 Dec 2010 11:18 PM PST Visual-effects supervisor Eric Barba reveals how his team pulled off 61-year old Bridges' stunning 3-D reverse-aging.
For the last few days, MTV News has been taking you inside some of the coolest aspects of "Tron Legacy," from the creative process behind Daft Punk's violins-meet-synthesizers soundtrack to the generation of the film's neon-pulsing motorcycles and warships. Now we're going to take you behind the creation of the film's single-most jaw-dropping visual effect: turning Jeff Bridges from 60-something Oscar-winner into the Bridges of 1984's "Against All Odds." We caught up with visual-effects supervisor Eric Barba, the driving force behind the CG work on "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," for which technicians both aged Brad Pitt into an old man and turned back time to capture the actor's 20-something look. What they managed to accomplish was nothing short of astounding, and Barba won an Oscar for his efforts.
But what Barba and director Joseph Kosinski set out to create for "Tron Legacy" was something far different — and far more challenging. "It's the hardest thing that's ever been done in visual effects," Barba explained. See, the film stars two different versions of Bridges' character Kevin Flynn. One is the Flynn who's been trapped inside a computer-generated world for 20 years and who looks exactly like a 60-something Bridges. The other is Clu, a digital manifestation who does not age and thus still looks about 35 years old. To create Clu, Barba's team essentially had to wrap a CG mask around Bridges' face, making him look young again. What made that task harder than the one in "Benjamin Button" was that, for "Tron," Barba had to do everything in 3-D. "What scared us with Jeff was that we're at the beginning of this technology," he said. "People were very happy with the way Benjamin came across. But there's leeway because we've never seen Brad Pitt as an old man. This was 10 times harder. We all know what Jeff Bridges looks like at 35. Right off the bat, we were setting ourselves up for other people's expectations." To begin, the filmmakers brought in makeup-effects master Rick Baker ("Men in Black") to build a likeness of a young Bridges' head that would serve as a basis for their CG work. But that likeness soon had to be thrown away, after filmmakers decided they wanted an even younger version of the actor. There was no time to build another head, so Barba's team had to re-sculpt everything in the computer. Then in came Bridges himself. "We had to derive the face from Jeff's performance, so we built this four-camera, head-mounted system that Jeff would wear on set with the other actors," Barba said. "We'd take the data from those four cameras and triangulate each point and get a floating, 3-D point cloud of his face. We ran that through sophisticated software we wrote and it rebuilt his performance on the younger visage." Yet that was just the beginning. The effects team also had to mirror the particular movements of Bridges' face — muscles, skin, expressions and the like — so that the CG face would approach a photo-realistic representation rather than dipping into the much-dreaded "uncanny valley" in which CG creations fail to look appropriately human. Early viewers have been split over the success of Clu: Some have applauded the work, while others have argued the character has not escaped that digital valley. The filmmakers knew exactly what they were getting themselves into when they started out, and Barba remains ecstatic over what they were able to accomplish. "We knew Clu would be a much, much more difficult challenge then Benjamin," he said. "But hey, someone's got to take those chances and those risks and go for it. We thought this was a great project to do that." Are you going to check out "Tron Legacy"? Tell us in the comments! Check out everything we've got on "Tron Legacy." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Racy Demi Lovato Photos Leak Online Posted: 17 Dec 2010 12:27 AM PST Pictures show Disney star wearing just a bra and licking a female friend's face.
In photos of Demi Lovato that hit the Net, the Disney star is seen pulling her shirt down to reveal her cleavage, surrounded by a group of her friends, and also posing in just a bra. While the photos were published on the blog Anything Disney on Wednesday, other websites just picked them up Friday (December 17). Anything Disney posted an additional photo of Lovato, reportedly from the same night, where she is wearing a belly-baring top, pulling down her shirt and licking a female's face. One of the women in the photos, donning orange/red hair and kissing Lovato's shoulder, appears to be Alex Welch, the dancer Lovato allegedly punched before the singer/actress entered a treatment facility last month. Recently, Welch opened up about her incident with the teen star, noting that she was surprised when Lovato allegedly struck her. "I felt, honestly, I didn't say anything and didn't think twice about it," Welch recalled. "We were on the plane with the Jonases having this awesome time, and I didn't get a call or text from Demi or a 'Hey, you got a problem with me,' nothing. And she walks up and punches me and, literally, walked away and got in her seat. No one should walk up and do that and brush it over, it's not right." Kevin Jonas recently told MTV's "The Seven" that he hasn't spoken with his former tourmate recently. "I really haven't had any contact [with her]," Kevin said. "Of course, we wish her well in her recovery." Related Artists |
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