MTV News |
- Jay-Z And Kanye's <i>Watch The Throne</i> Is 'Ready To Go'
- Britney Spears' 'I Wanna Go' Director Breaks Down Cheeky Clip
- 'Transformers: Dark Of The Moon': Behind The 'Star Trek' Nods
- Nicki Minaj's 'Turn Me On' Will Shock Fans
- 'Harry Potter' World Cup: Muggles Target Robert Pattinson
- Q-Tip's Documentary Comments Confuse Michael Rapaport
- Shia LaBeouf Compares 'Transformers' Gals Megan Fox, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
- Eminem's 'Space Bound' Video Is 'Tricky,' Jim Jonsin Says
- Lindsay Lohan Released From House Arrest
- 'Transformers' Reviews: How Do The Three Movies Stack Up?
- 'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol' Trailer: An Expert Analysis
- 'Transformers: Dark Of The Moon' Thrills Opening Night Crowds
- Carmelo Anthony Wants To Help Out Pal Cassidy
- New Tupac Tracks Dis B.I.G., Diddy, More
- Coldplay Premiere 'Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall' Video
- Bam Margera 'Can't Stop Crying' Over Ryan Dunn's Death
- Jill Scott Scores First #1 on <i>Billboard</i> 200
- 'Twilight Saga: Eclipse' Leads Teen Choice Awards Nominees
| Jay-Z And Kanye's <i>Watch The Throne</i> Is 'Ready To Go' Posted: 29 Jun 2011 06:24 AM PDT 'They might put it out yesterday,' G.O.O.D. Music's CyHi the Prynce jokes to Sway on 'RapFix Live.'
The anticipation for Jay-Z and Kanye West's joint album Watch the Throne coupled with the lack of information surrounding the project has created the perfect storm for rumors.
Earlier this month, The Source magazine reported that the album would be dropping July 4. With Independence Day coming in less than a week, those chances are looking as slim as the girl in Calvin Klein pants is. But on Wednesday's (June 29) episode of "Rap Fix Live," G.O.O.D. Music artist CyHi the Prynce did give fans a bit of hope. "They are ready to go. Right now, all the music and everything is done," CyHi told Sway. "But you know my guy — we over here with [Kanye], so 'Ye is gonna add his last little pizzazz, and it's going to be ready for you guys soon." On Tuesday, the Fourth of July speculation continued to swirl as AllHipHop.com ran a rumor report that said that the album will come Monday as a digital-only release to avoid leaks. CyHi would neither confirm nor deny that report, saying he wasn't privy to that information. "I don't know the business of the logistics of it," he said, dodging the question with a veteran's poise. "Those are the bosses. You never know what they gonna do and how they gonna put it out. They might put it out yesterday. "I don't know. 'Ye can do something, and he can just do it how he wanna do it," CyHi continued. "He can just put it out tomorrow if he wanted to, and that's what 'Ye want to do." Until then, we'll continue to watch. Are you on the edge of your seat for Jay and Kanye's album? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists |
| Britney Spears' 'I Wanna Go' Director Breaks Down Cheeky Clip Posted: 30 Jun 2011 05:28 AM PDT Chris Marrs Piliero explains the video's 'Half Baked' and 'Terminator' homages, but what about those elusive seashells?
Britney Spears' video for "I Wanna Go" — a dream-sequence-y, pop-culture-reference-packed tongue-in-cheek attack on the paparazzi — is so fun, it's quickly becoming one of our favorites. And because we can't get enough of it, MTV News sought out the vid's creative mastermind, director Chris Marrs Piliero (who also directed Ke$ha's "Blow"), to explain it to us, frame by frame.
"This opening scene poked fun at the ridiculous rumors that surround Britney," Piliero said of the clip's opening press conference, during which Britney tells off a room of reporters. "That is our homage to 'Half Baked.' I was really stoked that we were able to include that little parody homage in the video and that Guillermo Diaz, who is the guy [in the scene] giving the thumbs up, is from the movie." After strutting out of the press conference and squeezing the butt of an autograph-seeking fan (played by one of her dancers), Spears strolls down the street, passing by a baby in a stroller who whistles at her. "We were actually going to have three babies," Piliero revealed. "But the other two were just crying and crying. and I was like 'F--- it, get 'em outta there,' and the one baby, he ruled and was super cute, so we went with him." Spears' next saucy move is to flash a bunch of guys on the street: a young boy, his dad, a male driver getting a ticket and the cop writing it. "That little kid was awesome," Piliero said of the young redheaded boy. "If you look closely, he's actually squeezing his juice box all over this shirt. The cop is another one of Britney's dancers. You might recognize him from the 'Hold It Against Me' video, he had blue hair." Next up, Spears encounters a paparazzo on the street and grabs his camera and throws it to the ground. "That was a very genuine performance from Britney," Piliero said of the scene. "I felt like she was letting out her inner emotion toward paparazzi. It was also really cold. I think she just went for it." Cut to Spears on top of a taxi, microphone in hand with a long cord, which she uses to take out the various photographers who have surrounded her. "A lot of people think this was inspired by 'Kill Bill,' because I'm a huge Quentin Tarantino fan. I would totally own up to that if it was true," he admitted. "But I actually intended for her to always having her performance with the microphone [throughout the video] for her performance setup, so I thought that was a good way to tie it all together and I didn't want to give her a real weapon." But Piliero was making an intentional pop-culture reference with the wording on the movie theater marquee in the background of the scene that reads "Crossroads 2: Cross Harder." "I've always thought that 'Die Hard 2: Die Harder' is one of the most ridiculously awesome titles for a sequel ," he said. "And I needed to put something in the marquee, and I thought it would be a really fun Easter egg for fans." Now something odd happens with the paparazzi who've been hit by Spears' microphone weapon — they are revealed to be robots or androids. "I love pop culture and this whole video is kind of a dream sequence," Piliero said. "I think it's natural to have fantasies and dreams with stuff inspired by pop culture, so that's why the robot guys kind of have a 'Terminator'-ish feel." Before the "Terminator" 'bots can move in on Spears, Diaz drives up in a sports car and whisks her away, where he celebrates by pouring a carton of milk all over himself. "Guillermo kills it in the scene with the milk, he's hilarious," Piliero enthused. "And I love Britney's reaction there; both her reactions where she's laughing are so good. A lot of people ask about the milk and what the deal with it is, a lot of people have theories too, I don't need to say what the point is, because I love hearing what people say, so I'll leave it at that. Same goes with the seashells too." Cut to the final scene, where we realize that it was all a dream. Spears is at the press conference, shaken out of a daze when Guillermo steps in and tells the reporters, "No more questions," then hands Spears a handful of those seashells that Piliero won't explain. He looks back at the camera at the last moment and we see his eyes are robot red, an obvious nod to Michael Jackson's zombie-green eyes in the last shot of "Thriller." " 'Thriller is one of my favorite music videos ever," Piliero said. "I remember watching it when I was five, that was what inspired me to become a music video director so I wanted to pay homage to it." What do you think the milk and the seashells signify in "I Wanna Go"? Share your theories in the comments below. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| 'Transformers: Dark Of The Moon': Behind The 'Star Trek' Nods Posted: 30 Jun 2011 03:53 AM PDT Director Michael Bay explains threequel's many references to 'Trek,' including Leonard Nimoy's voice work.
Sometimes Easter Eggs in movies — an intentional in-joke, reference or hidden message — are hard to spot, very blink-and-you-miss-it, and thus require repeat viewings to pick up on. Not so with "Transformers: Dark of the Moon," however. Even the most casual filmgoer should pick up on at least one of the many "Star Trek" references in the film. When MTV News caught up with director Michael Bay, we asked him to address the "Trek" connections, beginning with his enlistment of beloved actor Leonard Nimoy, a.k.a. Spock, to voice the role of Sentinel Prime.
"He's actually related to me. He married Susan Bay [the director's cousin]," Bay said. "I was scared to ask him to voice. I saw him at Thanksgiving, and my mom was like, 'Ask him! Ask him!' I'm like, 'No, Mom, no!' " As difficult as it is to imagine Bay being afraid of anything, he eventually got over his Nimoy anxiety. Bonus factoid for the non-Transformer geeks: Nimoy also lent his vocal talents to the 1986 animated film, as the voice of Galvatron. Speaking to other "Trek" references, Bay said he didn't have anything to do with them; they all came from the film's screenwriter. "That was my writer, Ehren Kruger," Bay said. "[He] is a 'Star Trek' geek, so that wasn't my thing." So how many references did you count? Here are the three we spotted (minor spoilers ahead): 1. When Sam (Shia LaBeouf) meets girlfriend Carly (Rosie Huntington-Whiteley) at work and is introduced to her boss, Dylan Gould (Patrick Dempsey), he marvels at their workplace: "It's a beautiful building you guys have. Like the Starship Enterprise in here." 2. Refugee robots Brains and Wheelie, who are hiding out in Carly and Sam's apartment, watch an episode of "Trek," during which one of them says, "Hey, I like this episode. It's the one where Spock turns evil" — which also provides for a nice bit of tongue-in-cheek foreshadowing. 3. At one point, Sentinel Prime defends certain motivations with a fun little reverse quote of Spock's wise words to Captain Kirk in "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan." "Dark of the Moon" quote: "The needs of the few outweigh the needs of the many." Original: "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few." What did we miss? Check out everything we've got on "Transformers: Dark of the Moon." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Nicki Minaj's 'Turn Me On' Will Shock Fans Posted: 29 Jun 2011 06:38 AM PDT 'The world is not gonna believe it when they hear it,' David Guetta tells MTV News of track from his Nothing But the Beat double album.
As David Guetta gears up for the August release of his album Nothing But the Beat, it would be all too easy for the French DJ/producer to simply replicate the formula that has made him famous. While Guetta helped usher in a wave of electronic/pop music in the U.S., thanks to collaborations with acts like the Black Eyed Peas and Akon, he has other plans for his upcoming project.
"With my previous album, I kind of created a bridge between electronic music from Europe and urban culture from America, and this sound at the time was so futuristic and new, [it] became almost the standard sound of American pop music," Guetta told MTV News. "So the challenge on my new album was not so much to make hits — because I think I can do this — but more on a creative point of view and to surprise people and come with a new sound. "So it's a double album," he explained, "and one album is 100 percent electronic and very experimental, and the other album is 100 percent vocal and has all the biggest and most talented superstars on the planet." One of those superstars, hip-hop chameleon Nicki Minaj, gets her shine on the album's lead single, "Where Them Girls At," alongside rapper Flo Rida. But there's another track on The Beat that's likely to expand Minaj's repertoire. "I'm a big Nicki Minaj fan and I'm really, really proud of this record that we made together. It's called 'Turn Me On,' and she is singing," Guetta said. "But like, she's not trying to sing — she's really, really singing. And this record is really big, and I'm really proud that she's done that record. I think that the world is not gonna believe it when they hear it." While Guetta's newer fans are listening to the voice-oriented album, which includes features from Lil Wayne, Usher, Chris Brown and Jennifer Hudson, he's hoping it serves as a gateway to the double album's electronic disc. "I feel that I am very blessed that my music has been crossing over but at the same time, my original fans, they're still the most important ones," Guetta insisted. "And I'm a DJ first, so my music is very electronic even though I make songs now and they're being played on the radio. But the fact that I come from a very instrumental culture, it's still in me. "So I made this electronic album for my original fans, for everybody that came to Electric Daisy Carnival in Vegas, that are raving and partying every weekend. But also, I made this electronic album because I want the people that know me for what they heard on the radio and that are buying my album for the big songs, I also want them to discover where I'm coming from and the other side of me." Are you looking forward to Guetta's double album? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists |
| 'Harry Potter' World Cup: Muggles Target Robert Pattinson Posted: 29 Jun 2011 02:35 AM PDT Keep voting over on the MTV Movies Blog to determine the best 'Potter' character of all time.
The second round of MTV News' "Harry Potter" World Cup — the fan-voted tournament to pick the greatest character in the fantasy franchise — is already under way, but we'd like to pause for a minute to say how damn impressed we are. We offered up this momentous task to you, and you came through in a big way over the first round, voting more than 1.2 million times to make sure your favorite wizards and witches, heroes and villains, owls, elves and werewolves made it through to the next round.
Magical stuff! And it's only just beginning. Round two is shaping up to deliver us some blowouts, some neck-and-neck competitions and one upset that could have fans of another supernatural series up in arms. On that last point, we're talking about Mr. Robert Pattinson. Before RPattz got mixed up in the "Twilight" madness, he took on the role of Cedric Diggory, a wizard who was only featured in "Goblet of Fire" but whose death changed the course of Hogwarts history and earned the character a #3 seed in our tournament. Cedric coasted through the first round and seemed to have a path cleared for him in future rounds by "Twilight" fans, who knocked Luna Lovegood out in a shocking round-one defeat. Yet "Potter" fans seem to be fighting back in round two. Cedric now finds himself in a fierce battle with Narcissa Malfoy, the Dark Lord ally who squeaked by Lovegood in round one and could make it two upsets in a row. As of this writing, Narcissa leads the voting 53 percent to Cedric's 47 percent. All this makes for one of round two's most exciting matchups. And a lot can happen before voting ends July 1 at 12:01 p.m. ET. Will the throw-down between brother/sister tandem George and Ginny Weasley, for example, go down to the wire? Right now, they're locked in a virtual tie. And can Professor Minerva McGonagall, the head honcho of Gryffindor, maintain a razor-thin margin of victory over timid-yet-ultimately heroic Neville Longbottom? Don't count that dude out yet. Other matches seem already decided. Ron Weasley holds a commanding lead over Quidditch top dog Oliver Wood. Ron's gal pal Hermione and best friend Harry Potter, meanwhile, have each also raced out to nearly impossible-to-overcome leads. Big shock there, right? The big three are going to coast safely into the Sweet 16. There they'll no doubt greet Severus Snape, the is-he-really-bad-or-maybe-kinda-good wizard who is deservedly a fan favorite. He's far ahead in his face-off with itty-bitty Professor Flitwick. We'll go ahead now and call it: Snape for the win! And let's cross our fingers that Dobby the House Elf, he of the adorable voice and self-sacrificing worldview, maintains his hefty lead over Kingsley Shacklebolt, who honestly is on borrowed time after a round-one upset of Mad-Eye Moody. So that's where we stand about halfway through the second round. Don't let your personal fave pull a Mad-Eye Moody. Make sure he, she or it gets your support. With millions of votes coming through, it's up to you to vote and vote and vote. And then vote some more before we anoint the greatest character of all time in MTV News' Harry Potter World Cup. Who is the best "Harry Potter" character of all time? The "Harry Potter" World Cup will find out! Voting is going on now over on the MTV Movies Blog, and you can also get the debate going on Twitter with the hashtag #mtvpottercup. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Q-Tip's Documentary Comments Confuse Michael Rapaport Posted: 29 Jun 2011 06:32 AM PDT 'It was confusing to me,' director tells 'RapFix Live' in response to the MC encouraging rappers to tell their own stories.
Despite all of the controversy surrounding "Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest," ATCQ's Q-Tip has encouraged fans to see the documentary, which is now playing in select cities. The Queens MC has bucked at how the group was portrayed in the film, and during a visit to "RapFix Live" this past March, Tip encouraged other rap artists to tell their own stories.
The doc's director, Michael Rapaport, who has weathered criticism from Tip in the past, appeared on "RapFix Live" Wednesday (June 29) and admitted that he was confused by the rapper's comments on the live stream. "We crack the mold, we break the rules. We define this culture that we in right now, this Western culture, the sh-- that's moving around the world, whether it be Tribe to Lil Wayne, Drake to Kanye, I don't care," Q-Tip said to Sway back in March. "This hip-hop sh-- is our sh--, and when we start moving in, control your stories, man. Tell your stories — that's what I learned from this." "I don't understand what [Q-Tip] was talkin' about with 'telling their own stories,' " Rapaport told MTV News. "I don't know if it was like, 'Hip-hop artists should direct movies about hip-hop artists,' or maybe he was saying, 'I should direct a documentary about myself,' which has never been done before." Rapaport argued that a filmmaker doesn't need to be a hip-hop artist to effectively document the culture on film and used "Goodfellas" and "Casino" director Martin Scorsese to illustrate his point. "Martin Scorsese does movies about gangsters, and if you've ever been around Martin Scorsese, he's the furthest thing from a gangster, so I don't understand the thing about 'tell the stories yourself,' " Rapaport said, sounding perplexed. "I don't know if he meant, 'We're from hip-hop, it should be a hip-hop director' or — I don't know who would go under the auspices of being a hip-hop director. Or if it was a racial thing like, 'We're black and shouldn't have a white director.' It was confusing to me." The filmmaker did acknowledge that despite the back and forth between him and the rapper, he did appreciate Q-Tip asking fans to support the movie. Whether the two can reconcile is up in the air. According to Rapaport, the last time he heard from Tip was through email and it seems that the message was less than encouraging. "I haven't talked to Q-Tip," he said. "Last time I heard from Q-Tip he sent me an email and he said, 'All you gotta do is stay white and be privileged.' " What do you think of Michael Rapaport's response to Q-Tip on "RapFix Live"? Sound off in the comments. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Shia LaBeouf Compares 'Transformers' Gals Megan Fox, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley Posted: 29 Jun 2011 02:17 AM PDT 'You went from a biker-machine-shop chick to a woman who's fresh out of college,' LaBeouf tells MTV News about his onscreen romances.
Unless you've been living under a rock and/or have avoided all news related to "Transformers: Dark of the Moon," you're likely well aware that there was much ado about actress Megan Fox leaving the franchise and, subsequently, being replaced with model/first-time actress Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.
With the film in theaters this week, fans have moved beyond guessing about the circumstances that led to the alleged firing and hiring of Fox and Huntington-Whiteley, respectively, and turned their attention to another pressing question: How are the two characters addressed in the film? Specifically, how does one gorgeous girlfriend exit to leave room for a new one? And while we know this is a summer movie full of fantasy, is it really believable that a guy like Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) could wind up with the likes of Mikaela Banes (Fox) and Carly (Huntington-Whiteley)? MTV News went straight to the source and enlisted LaBeouf and Huntington-Whiteley to explain the appeal and attraction of their characters, Sam and Carly, and to compare the "Dark of the Moon" relationship to the one between Sam and Mikaela, established in the first two installments. "The relationship the first time was a person chasing after a woman that he envied out of pure vanity," LaBeouf told us. "He didn't even know her, and he gets burned by it," he added, hinting at a "Dark of the Moon" scene where his character admits to being flat-out dumped by girlfriend #1. "[In this film], you find him with a woman who's more nurturing, who has a more maternal-type vibe; she's lighter," LaBeouf explained. "You went from a biker-machine-shop chick, which is a totally different sentiment, to a woman who's fresh out of college working for the British embassy as a diplomatic aide; it's a very different personality." LaBeouf also revealed that before Huntington-Whiteley was cast, he suggested to director Michael Bay that they go for a girl who was the exact opposite of Megan Fox's Mikaela. "I remember pitching to Mike, 'Maybe we should go with a more bookish type,' " he recalled. "Mike said to me — and there's two faces to this that are hilarious and insane and also genius, so three sides. I remember him saying to me, 'Shia, we're not going with any bookish anything. This is a summer movie — we need a summer girl.' To his credit, Mike really understands his audience. There's a certain audience that goes to see these movies that has certain requirements that it needs out of its summer movies." From Huntington-Whiteley's perspective, her character sees something different in Sam than Mikaela did. "She is so in love with him. He as a character, he's so funny, Sam, and he has such a great family in the movies," she said. "As the movie goes on, it kind of unfolds that she's had a hard time with her family. She's worked really hard, she's come from England. I think she finds him and he's the first person who adores her, as he should, and she loves that he adores her and they have this really lovely relationship," she explained. "It's a sweet thing. Shia was great to play that, with of course." Check out everything we've got on "Transformers: Dark of the Moon." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| Eminem's 'Space Bound' Video Is 'Tricky,' Jim Jonsin Says Posted: 28 Jun 2011 11:42 PM PDT 'It reminded me of Alanis Morissette's 'Ironic' video, where she's got her and her two other egos in the car,' song's producer tells MTV News.
Everyone seems to have their own take on Eminem's new "Space Bound" video, in which the Detroit MC commits suicide after finding out that his girlfriend is cheating on him. The song's producer, Jim Jonsin, likened the clip to a movie, and while the video is indeed shocking, he believes Eminem is clearly playing a character.
"Things happen in movies all the time. People kill themselves, people get killed, they kill other people," the multiplatinum producer explained to MTV News on Monday. "When my kids watch it, I like to explain to them in that manner: 'It's like a movie, ya know? He isn't really killing himself.' " Jonsin, who was on set when the Joseph Kahn-directed vid was shot in February, suggested that viewers watch the clip a few times to figure out the plot and then draw their own conclusion. "The video itself, it's tricky to figure out what's going on in certain scenes," he said. "It's going to take them a moment to figure out why he did it. It's not exactly spelled out, like, 'I killed myself because this girl drove me to it or she's cheating on me or she's texting some other dude,' or whatever it might be. So you're still guessing a little bit." Another element of the video that can be interpreted in a few ways is the two different versions of Eminem that appear onscreen simultaneously. Sasha Grey, who plays the rapper's girlfriend in "Space Bound," sees one of the two Shadys as Em's subconscious. Jonsin had a similar take and compared the visual to Alanis Morissette's 1996 video for her hit single "Ironic." "It reminded me of Alanis Morissette's 'Ironic' video, where she's got her and her two other egos in the car," he said, before turning the conversation back to Em. "I think it was him living in the now as a person going through it and him living as a person who is witnessing it and can make other choices to not be in that scenario. Maybe he would've chose differently, so now he's watching himself." How did you interpret Em's video? Let us know in the comments below! Related Photos Related Artists |
| Lindsay Lohan Released From House Arrest Posted: 29 Jun 2011 01:42 AM PDT Actress will turn 25 this weekend.
Independence Day weekend has a new meaning for Lindsay Lohan. Thirty-five days ago, Lohan began her house arrest, and on Wednesday (June 29), the actress completed the sentence in connection with her recent theft case. The singer had been confined to her home in Venice, California, for the past four weeks. "She completed her home detention today and she's now back under the supervision of the courts and probation," sheriff's spokesperson Steve Whitmore confirmed to People. A source told E! News that Lohan's ankle bracelet has also been removed. "I spoke with her yesterday and she told me she is eager to return to fulfilling her community service obligation, which she has been unable to perform during house arrest," her rep told E! Lohan still has to complete 360 hours working at the Downtown Women's Center in L.A. and then has 120 hours performing janitorial duties at the L.A. County Morgue. She has a year to complete her duties. Lohan turns 25 on July 2. Rumor has it, the star will be in New York to celebrate; however, her rep just said, she'll be "with friends and family privately" celebrating. Lohan appeared to be back in hot water earlier this month after she failed an alcohol test on June 13; she passed a drug test on June 9. Judge Stephanie Sautner ruled that the prior judge in the case only required controlled-substance testing from January 3 to February 25 of this year, meaning Lohan avoided any further punishment. Related Photos Related Artists |
| 'Transformers' Reviews: How Do The Three Movies Stack Up? Posted: 28 Jun 2011 11:40 PM PDT Third installment of the Shia LaBeouf-starring 'Bot franchise is getting the best notices yet.
We've now seen "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" — during a raucous pre-release IMAX screening that left our ears ringing and our senses tingling — and can vouch for the consensus critical opinion surrounding the summer blockbuster: It's the finest film in the franchise. That's the overall take. But how do the three films — including the 2007 original and 2009's "Revenge of the Fallen" — stack up when you're gauging various cinematic elements? To get to the bottom of that question, we have to dive back into the historical record.
The Story "T2": "There is much absurd backstory and crammed-in explanation for what is going on and despite much of it being voiced by the thunderous Peter Cullen ... it still gets annoying." — Jordan Hoffman, UGO "T3": "Writer Ehren Kruger ... had script duties all to himself, and he has fashioned a narrative of ornate silliness — which is to say, pretty good pulpy fun." — Kurt Loder, Reason The Visuals "T2": "The battle scenes are bewildering. A Bot makes no visual sense anyway, but two or three tangled up together create an incomprehensible confusion." — Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times "T3": "By showing a measure of restraint and using 3-D to excellent effect, Bay finally enables the Transformers to emerge as players in their own right, with hopes and dreams, declaiming their philosophies of fate, humankind and the universe in grand Shakespearean style." — Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times The Performances "T2": "Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox, who are definitely the stars as far as how much of the movie they're in compared to anyone else, both throw themselves into the physical demands of the film with admirable zeal, which is good, since there's nothing else to the roles." — Drew McWeeny, HitFix "T3": "LaBeouf is highly physical and crowd-pleasingly jerky as the little man and the franchise's centerpiece, Sam Witwicky. If all Tom Cruise consumed were juice boxes of Red Bull, LaBoeuf is who he'd be." — Wesley Morris, Boston Globe The Bottom Line "T2": "[Though] it has plenty of popcorn moments that can be big, dumb fun (alien secrets under a pyramid, sexy girls who sprout mechanical tails at the worst moments), director Michael Bay's sequel is louder and more illogical than the megasuccessful 2007 original." — Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News "T3": "'Dark of the Moon' is hardly a fleet production, but here Bay makes his best, most flexible use yet of all the flamboyant bigness at his command: computer-drawn characters and human actors seem to occupy the same narrative for once." — Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly Check out everything we've got on "Transformers: Dark of the Moon." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| 'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol' Trailer: An Expert Analysis Posted: 29 Jun 2011 12:23 AM PDT We break down the first sneak peek of Tom Cruise's fourth 'Mission.'
The first "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" trailer begins in classic fashion for this epic spy franchise: with a ridiculously destructive explosion. It's been almost six years, after all, since the previous installment hit theaters, and so this new footage, which popped up online Tuesday evening, delivers the fiery goods early and often.
Hit play on the embedded video as we walk through some of the key moments in the trailer, then read on for a deeper exploration of what's going on in the "Ghost Protocol" footage. The J.J. Abrams Conspiracy Now if you're a fan of the franchise, you'll remember that in the third film, Keri Russell (a veteran of producer J.J. Abrams' "Felicity") is killed surprisingly early in the action. Our working theory is that we're in for a similar treat for Holloway, who starred in Abrams' "Lost." We don't see a lot of him in the rest of the trailer, and when you do see him, he's usually alone. All signs point to Holloway getting an unfortunate, and quite possibly bloody, exit in "Ghost Protocol." The Brad Bird Comparison While J.J. Abrams has told us "Ghost Protocol" will carry the unmistakable signature of director Brad Bird, who is making his live-action debut after animated fare like "The Incredibles," it's hard to see any Birdian touches here. This looks like a "Mission" movie, not a Brad Bird one. And we wonder if, in the finished film, that will still be the case. One of Bird's signature stylistic traits is action (and interactions) infused with humor, and "M:I" is hardly a franchise that goes for laughs. The Tom Cruise Marathon The Jeremy Renner Possibility The IMAX Grandeur Check out everything we've got on "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos |
| 'Transformers: Dark Of The Moon' Thrills Opening Night Crowds Posted: 29 Jun 2011 12:40 AM PDT Robot flick nabs $13.5 million from Tuesday-night screenings.
NEW YORK — The "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" red carpet in Times Square on Tuesday evening was packed with fans, stars and possibly a few Autobots eager to see the third installment of Michael Bay's explosive franchise. Theaters across the country were similarly swarming during evening screenings on opening night, with the alien robot flick nabbing $13.5 million in pre-midnight and midnight screenings, according to Deadline.com. And though the atmosphere in front of the screening that MTV News attended was excited, several in the crowd were cautious about their hopes for the flick. "I've actually had lower expectations since the second one," Joseph Dornoff told us before he walked in. "So, I'm not expecting anything from it." His friend, Patrick Farace, who has been anxiously waiting to see the third film since he heard of its release, also shared his hope to see "a better plot than the last one, amazing action. I'm excited to see Shockwave — he's the new villain." Judging by the reaction in the audience, "Dark of the Moon" surpassed many people's expectations. Fans clapped, cheered and possibly even shed a tear as the Autobots battled the evil Decepticons in their quest to bring home planet Cybertron to Earth. Although the third film featured the same basic good vs. evil fight peppered with romance as the first two, everything seemed to be bigger in this one.
The battles between Megatron, Sentinel Prime, Bumblebee and Optimus Prime were the clear fan favorite. "[It's great] when Optimus comes by and just starts ripping everybody apart," said Wesley Arocho after the movie was done. "This action is made even more exciting by the fact that for the first time, audiences got to view it in 3-D." "The 3-D was great. All the special effects were great," Carlos Barrozi added. "It was better than past movies. It didn't hurt your eyes. You were able to watch it without wanting to take your glasses off," said Briana Brink-Rivera. Two friends, Mustafa Ahmed and Munawar Ali Mohd, even went so far as to say seeing the epic Chicago action in 3-D was "a dream come true." Even Sam Witwicky's (Shia LaBeouf) love life seemed to be hotter in the third film. When asked which of Sam's love interests they preferred, newcomer Rosie Huntington-Whiteley or former franchise hottie Megan Fox, brothers Brandon and Bryce McCright responded simultaneously, "Rosie!" If the response on opening night is any indication, Bay and company can rest assured that they've redeemed themselves after "Revenge of the Fallen." Now, the only question that remains is: Can we expect a fourth? Check out everything we've got on "Transformers: Dark of the Moon." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Carmelo Anthony Wants To Help Out Pal Cassidy Posted: 29 Jun 2011 12:23 AM PDT 'He's ready to focus on what he needs to focus on,' NBA superstar tells Mixtape Daily of Cass' post-prison career.
Celebrity Favorites: Carmelo Anthony In May, Cassidy was arrested after a warrant was issued stemming from a probation violation. The "I'ma Hustla" rapper, who is now home, explained that the incident all began after he missed an appointment with his P.O., but he's now looking to put the situation behind him. 'Melo is in full support.
"He's good, man. He's home. I'm glad he figured it out, got through that situation," Anthony said, updating Mixtape Daily on his buddy. "I'm glad he got that behind him, and now he's ready to focus on what he needs to focus on — I'm pretty sure getting back into the studio and throwing that under the rug." Anthony estimates that he and Cassidy met about three years ago, after the New York Knick reached out to the Philly rapper to appear on a Diego Ca$h record. "I tried to get him on a track with one of my artists. He actually did the track, and it just took off from there," 'Melo recalled. "He was available; he was a free agent at the time. He had just came home from jail. He was trying to reinvent himself, and I just thought it was the perfect opportunity at the time to give him new light." In addition to providing some assistance to Cass, Anthony has been positioning the relatively underground Diego Ca$h as an artist to watch for. Ca$h's latest video, "Return of the Rican," was shot during the 2011 Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York City and features hip-hop veteran Fat Joe. While Carmelo does have quite a few extracurricular activities, his focus is still on the basketball court. Though 'Melo's New York Knicks were swept out of the NBA Playoffs, losing four straight games to the Boston Celtics, Anthony seems focused and ready to continue balling in his hometown after he was traded to NY from Denver in February. "I'm home now; that's the most important thing." For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines. Related Videos Related Artists |
| New Tupac Tracks Dis B.I.G., Diddy, More Posted: 29 Jun 2011 08:43 AM PDT Two new posthumous songs take aim at Dr. Dre, Nas, Mobb Deep, De La Soul and others.
Tupac Shakur's rigorous recording habits ensured that the late rapper would continue to make a musical impact, even in the afterlife. Since his death in 1996, fans have been treated to albums' worth of posthumous 'Pac records, but the two records that leaked onto the Internet late Tuesday night are sure to cause a stir. A far cry from Shakur's uplifting tunes like "Changes" and " 'Til the End of Time," the two new tracks, "NY 87" and an alternate version of the little-known "Watch Yo Mouth," take aim at East Coast rap artists like the Notorious B.I.G., Diddy, Mobb Deep, Nas, De La Soul and former 'Pac ally Dr. Dre. Both songs appear to have been recorded circa 1996, when 'Pac was in a feud with Diddy's Bad Boy record label and various other New York artists, including the Notorious B.I.G. It was around this time when Shakur recorded and released his two most famous dis tracks, "Hit 'Em Up" and "Against All Odds" from his The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory album, which he recorded under the alias Makaveli. While "Watch Yo Mouth" is being touted as a new track, the song popped up online over two years ago. The version that was leaked this week has an alternate beat behind it, but the words remain the same. On it, the fiery Shakur begins with a barrage of Dr. Dre insults: "He ain't made a beat in six years, swear he the sh--/ Won't get no record sales suckin' Nas' di--." Nasty Nas also gets thrown under the bus as 'Pac compares the two rappers' record sales. De La Soul, Wendy Williams, Diddy and the Notorious B.I.G. all get ridiculed. Even in his lyrical tirade, the rapper attempts to downplay the much-hyped East Coast/ West Coast beef of the mid-1990s by chanting, "For my n---as on the east side" throughout the song. "NY 87," however, is a different story. Featuring raps by Tha Dogg Pound (Daz and Kurupt) and Threat, the bass-heavy dis track starts with a monologue from DJ Quik declaring, "Them n-----s on the East is the enemy." Though the track is being labeled on the Net as a 'Pac track, it is Tha Dogg Pound who are prominently featured. Appearing only on the last verse, 'Pac doesn't name-check any artists, but he does spit, "Move mother----ers 'til they feel me/ It's West Coast n---a, f--- New York, now did everybody hear me?" As of now it is unknown who released these tracks and why. The timing comes a little more than one week after Dexter Isaacs spoke to AllHipHop.com about his involvement in the 1994 robbery and non-fatal shooting of Shakur and after the hip-hop community celebrated what would've been Tupac's 40th birthday on June 16. Many have speculated that the feud between Tupac and Biggie is what led to the deaths of both rappers. Those rumors have never been confirmed. What do you think of these two posthumous Tupac songs? Tell us in the comments. Related Artists |
| Coldplay Premiere 'Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall' Video Posted: 29 Jun 2011 08:48 AM PDT New clip is a brightly-colored, paint-covered celebration of everyday life.
It's probably impossible to measure how many gallons of paint — glow-in-the-dark, high-gloss, Krylon, etc. — were used in the making of Coldplay's brand-new "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall" video, which premiered Wednesday (June 29). But suffice it to say, it was probably a lot. It seems that paint, gloriously splashed and joyously hued, is a recurring theme in the band's upcoming fifth album; while you can infer from that what you will, in the case of Coldplay's "Waterfall" clip, the end result is one that matches the sheer uplift of the song itself. This is a video that shakes you to life. Filmed mainly in stop-motion, the video follows Chris Martin and his mates as they wander through, above and, eventually, outside a decaying urban expanse, their music — and, of course, the paint — breathing new life into its crumbling husk. In a way, that's sort of like the song, too. Martin's lyrics are very much about the power his old records possess; they imbue ordinary life with the extraordinary. Aside from the paint, the clip's use of stop-motion recalls earlier Coldplay videos, most notably "Strawberry Swing," but they've always had a thing for messing with the constraints of time (see the shot-in-reverse "The Scientist" or "Christmas Lights" for proof). Their new one matches the exuberance of "Swing" and the childlike wonder of "Lights," and, unlike "The Scientist," there isn't a single horrifying car wreck to be seen. But mostly it's about all that paint, those colors and the ability they have to brighten everyday life. Just like Martin sings, every siren can be a symphony and every heartbeat can build a cathedral. With "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall," Coldplay prove that they're always on message, even when they're making a glorious mess. Related Artists |
| Bam Margera 'Can't Stop Crying' Over Ryan Dunn's Death Posted: 29 Jun 2011 06:39 AM PDT 'You're gonna kill yourself, man,' Margera recalled warning 'Jackass' co-star about his driving.
A week after attending a memorial service for his friend and "Jackass" co-star Ryan Dunn, Bam Margera sat down for an interview with E! Online to discuss the car accident that took the lives of Dunn and friend Zachary Hartwell and talk about the final message he got from his fellow daredevil.
"He was my best f---ing friend in the world. It's been five days now, and I can't stop crying, man," Margera said. "I just don't think it should've been him." Looking drawn and tired, with wife Melissa Rothstein by his side holding his hand, Margera said the phone call he received about the accident was "pretty much the worst news I've ever heard in my life." The call came while he was asleep in Arizona, with Margera's friends urging him to get on the line with his brother right away to discuss the news. Sounding and looking a bit woozy, Margera remembered that he was a passenger in a car Dunn was driving in 1996 that flew off the road in the same spot. "He flipped me in a car eight times at the same exact spot in 1996," Margera recalled. "Thank God I had my seat belt on, because ["Jackass" contributor] Chris Raab put one on me, but my brother didn't have one on. He flew 40 feet. Thank God he's alive. But like, Dunn was always a maniac at driving." Asked to recall the final words he spoke with Dunn, Margera pulled out his phone and read a series of texts the pals exchanged on the night that Dunn drank with friends at a Pennsylvania bar. "Are you all right, need me to come over there and get people out of there?" he read, laughing about a string of jokes the two had shared over the legal travails of former baseball star Lenny Dykstra. "Stopping for a beer, be there when I can," read the final message he got from Dunn, who was annoyed by the local traffic in West Chester, Pennsylvania, that night due to a local running event. He also revealed that the high-speed crash — police estimate that Dunn was driving in excess of 130 m.p.h. in a 55 zone and had a blood-alcohol level twice the legal limit at the time — was just a block or so from Hartwell's house. "And he must have just missed the exit," Margera speculated. "He should have just f---ing turned around, but he skidded out and ran right into a thing ... and seeing all these burnt, f---ing pieces of tree ... that was tough for me. I went twice." Asked if the press focus on Dunn's blood-alcohol level is a "disservice" to the stuntman's memory, Margera said, "That doesn't really matter at all. ... First of all, I'll say it about myself, it will take me three beers to even feel normal. If you drink three beers and then three girlie shots, whatever, it has nothing to do with that. He is a maniac in a car. He has a goddamn Porsche and he drives fast." Margera went on to explain that Dunn's Porsche was the "lightest one possible," outfitted with a Lamborghini engine, a turbo booster and nitro boosts, which he said caused the car to fishtail when it sped down the road. "I said, 'You're gonna go right into a pole, dude,' " he recalled warning Dunn. " 'You're gonna kill yourself, man,' " he responded when Dunn joked that he was a race car driver. If he could go back to that night, Margera said he would have told Dunn, "Give me your goddamn keys, you idiot." Related Videos Related Photos |
| Jill Scott Scores First #1 on <i>Billboard</i> 200 Posted: 29 Jun 2011 08:43 AM PDT Bon Iver debuts at #2, followed by Adele at #3 and 'Weird Al' Yankovic at #9.
R&B singer Jill Scott will notch her first #1 album next week when her fourth effort, Light of the Sun, crashes the top of the Billboard 200 chart thanks to sales of 135,000 copies, according to figures provided by Nielsen SoundScan.
That was more than enough to hold off the charge from another chart-topping newbie, sensitive Wisconsin folkie Bon Iver (a.k.a. Justin Vernon), whose self-titled second collection of pastoral Auto-Tuned hymns hits #2 after selling 104,000 copies. The pair leads a parade of new faces, which include country singer Justin Moore at #5 with Outlaws Like Me (65,000), Pitbull, whose Planet Pit lands at #7 (55,000), and perennial chart-crashing joke man "Weird Al" Yankovic, who yuks his way to #9 with Alpocalypse (44,000). The rest of the top 10: Adele, 21 (#3, 101,000); Jackie Evancho, Dream With Me (#4, 77,000); Bad Meets Evil, Hell: The Sequel (#6, 63,000); Lady Gaga, Born This Way (#8, 49,000); and Jason Aldean, My Kinda Party (#10, 40,000). Speaking of parties, all-night disco rockers LMFAO wiggle in just outside the top 10 with their second effort, Sorry for Party Rocking, which hits #12 (27,000), while soul singer Ledisi takes a 10-spot tumble in week two with Pieces of Me, which falls to #18 (20,000). Without a smash hit like "Fireflies," fans seemed to flee Owl City's latest, All Things Bright and Beautiful, which plummets 26 spots in week two to #32, as sales drop 73 percent to 13,000. Pop punk veterans Simple Plan rolled into the #52 slot with Get Your Heart On! (9,000). Over on the iTunes charts, it's a different story, as Bon Iver rules the album tally, followed by Adele, Scott, the Eminem and Royce Da 5'9" collabo Bad Meets Evil, Pitbull, Moore, Mumford & Sons' Sigh No More, LMFAO, Matt Nathanson's Modern Love and a Frank Sinatra greatest hits collection. Katy Perry was the queen of the iTunes singles chart thanks to "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)," which beat out Maroon 5's "Moves Like Jagger" collaboration with Christina Aguilera on "The Voice," then LMFAO's "Party Rock Anthem," Pitbull's "Give Me Everything," Nicki Minaj's "Super Bass," Adele's "Rolling in the Deep," Lady Gaga's "The Edge of Glory," Hot Chelle Rae's "Tonight Tonight," Lil Wayne's "How to Love" and Blake Shelton's "Honey Bee." Expect more shake-ups at the top next week when Beyoncé's 4 charts, along with new ones from Selena Gomez, former "American Idol" winner David Cook, Big Sean, Curren$y and, yes, the reunited Limp Bizkit. Related Artists |
| 'Twilight Saga: Eclipse' Leads Teen Choice Awards Nominees Posted: 29 Jun 2011 08:25 AM PDT 'Glee,' 'Harry Potter,' Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift also up for awards.
"The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" is the undeniable lead contender at this year's Teen Choice Awards. The flick received 12 nods, including Choice Movie: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Choice Movie Actor: Sci-Fi/Fantasy for both Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner and Choice Movie Actress: Sci-Fi/Fantasy for Kristen Stewart. The other big nominations for the flick include two for Choice Movie: Liplock (for K-Stew's kisses with both Lautner and RPattz), Bryce Dallas Howard for Choice Movie: Villain, Kellan Lutz for Choice Movie: Male Scene Stealer and Ashley Greene for Choice Movie: Female Scene Stealer. But there are some other movies, TV shows and musicians vying for surfboards on August 7. "Glee," "The Vampire Diaries," "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1," Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez and "The Hangover Part II" all received nominations for the show, which airs on Fox. Gomez and Swift face off against each other in the Choice Music: Love Song category for their songs "Love You Like a Love Song" and "Mine," respectively. They are up against Allstar Weekend ("Come Down With Love"), Bruno Mars ("Just the Way You Are") and Katy Perry ("Teenage Dream"). Interestingly enough, exes Joe Jonas (who is also up for Choice Male Hottie) and Swift battle it out in the Choice Break-Up Song category. Swift is nominated for "Back to December" and Jonas for his solo single "See No More." They go up against Adele ("Rolling in the Deep"), Cee Lo Green ("Forget You") and Mars ("Grenade"). Voting has kicked off, and for a complete list of nominees, fans can visit the show's official website. More information on the host, presenters and performers will be announced closer to show day. Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Related Photos |
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