Saturday, April 30, 2011
Prince William Enjoys His Last Moments As A Single Man
With mere HOURS to go before Prince William marries his ladylove Kate Middleton, it’s understandable that the lad would want to enjoy some downtime with his mates. In an effort to really enjoy his last moments as a single (free) man, Wills zoomed around London on his motorcycle and then met up with some BFFs [...]
The Beckham Bunch Make Their Way To London For The Royal Wedding
Victoria and David Beckham are among the select people who have been invited to attend the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton tomorrow and last night the entire Beckham bunch — including Brooklyn Joseph, Romeo James and Cruz David … PLUS Vicki B‘s baby bump — passed thru LAX Airport on their way [...]
Friday, April 29, 2011
Adele Back At #1 On Billboard Chart, Pushing Britney Spears To #2
Spears drops to #2 as sales of Femme Fatale trail off in second week.
By Gil Kaufman
Adele's <i>21</i>
Photo: Columbia Records
It's a bit early to call it a changing of the guard, but British songbird Adele will make a strong case that she is a major force to be reckoned with on the Billboard charts next week when her album 21 retakes the #1 spot.
Thanks to sales of 88,000, according to Nielsen SoundScan, Adele pulls the feat off — her fourth non-consecutive week at #1 since the album's release in late February — while forcing last week's #1, Britney Spears' Femme Fatale, down to #2.
Spears' highly anticipated new effort suffers a steep drop-off in its second chart cycle, plunging 73 percent on sales of 75,000, for a two-week total of 352,000. In contrast, Adele has pushed past the 1 million mark in seven weeks to notch the best-selling album of 2011 to date.
Also losing a significant amount (70 percent) of business in its second week is rapper Wiz Khalifa's Rolling Papers, which falls three spots to #5 on sales of 59,000. Masked rap-rock crew Hollywood Undead scored their best chart debut ever with American Tragedy, which comes in at #4 (66,000), while little-known metalers Asking Alexandria come in at #9 on sales of 31,000.
The rest of the top 10: Radiohead, King of Limbs (#3, 67,000); Chris Brown, F.A.M.E. (#6, 51,000); the iTunes Songs for Japan compilation (#7, 51,000); Mumford & Sons' Sigh No More (#8, 34,000); and Kirk Franklin's Hello Fear (#10, 31,000).
Jennifer Hudson's I Remember Me slips four spots to #11 as sales dip 46 percent to 31,000, while Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and former Band member Robbie Robertson scores a #13 debut (22,000) for How to Become Clairvoyant, his first studio album in 13 years. Rapper Jim Jones hits #20 with the debut of his latest, Capo (21,000), indie faves The Kills come in at #37 with Blood Pressures (13,000), and superstar DJ Tiësto is down at #52 with Club Life Volume One — Las Vegas (10,000).
On the iTunes album charts, it was all about the Songs for Japan album, which reigned supreme over Adele, who was followed by the Hollywood Undead, Spears, Mumford & Sons, Khalifa, Asking Alexandria, the TRON: Legacy Reconfigured special package, an "American Idol" digital album featuring the top nine, including shock castoff Pia Toscano, and the soundtrack Grey's Anatomy: The Music Event.
Katy Perry had the top of the iTunes singles chart on lock with her Kanye West collabo "E.T." beating out the Black Eyed Peas' "Just Can't Get Enough," Rihanna's "S&M," Britney's second single, "Till the World Ends," Blake Shelton's "Honey Bee" and Adele's smash "Rollin' in the Deep." The rest of the list included Jennifer Lopez's "On the Floor" at #7, Chris Brown just behind with "Look at Me Now" and Pitbull's "Give Me Everything" and Ke$ha's "Blow."
Look for some movement at the top next week thanks to the debuts of the Foo Fighters' Wasting Light, Jessie J's debut Who You Are, the "Lemonade Mouth" soundtrack and a new album from folk-rock legend Paul Simon.
Related Videos Related Artists
'Moulin Rouge' Is 'One Of The Best Movies Of All Time,' Joe Jonas Says
Before MTV News' 'Moulin Rouge' live stream Monday at 3 p.m. ET, Jonas recalls working with director Baz Luhrmann on Broadway's 'La Boheme.'
By Jocelyn Vena
Joe Jonas
Photo: MTV News
As we gear up for our "Moulin Rouge at 10: A Spectacular Spectacular MTV News Event" on Monday, we are remembering why the movie is so memorable a decade later.
Joe Jonas had the pleasure of working with the flick's director Baz Luhrmann back in 2003 as a member of the children's chorus in Luhrmann's Broadway production of Puccini's classic opera "La Boheme," and he has only the fondest memories of the experience.
"It was amazing," he told MTV News. "Funny story for you: I was in 'La Boheme,' [and] I remember being onstage and I didn't know what stage left or stage right was, and I was really confused, and he told me from the audience, he was like, 'All right, take a little bit to the stage left.'
"And I was really confused, and I was really embarrassed," he continued. "I didn't know what he was talking about. He literally walked up onstage and he acted like he was talking to me, and he whispered in my ear, like, 'Go a little bit to the left.' So, for me, the fact that a director would be so cool with me like that, from then on, I was so blown away that he was so cool."
Jonas, who has since gone on to superstardom and even starred in two successful TV musicals ("Camp Rock" and "Camp Rock 2") credits Luhrmann's forward-thinking vision in "Moulin Rouge" for pop culture's current obsession with the genre.
"I think he's an amazing director, and his credits are unbelievable," he said. " 'Moulin Rouge' is one of the best movies of all time, and there's no doubt in that. And I think it really has started a generation of music into TV [and] movies so openly."
MTV News will reunite Luhrmann, Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor to celebrate "Moulin Rouge at 10: A Spectacular Spectacular MTV News Event" on Monday, May 2, at 3 p.m. ET on MTV.com. The director and stars will be joined by co-star John Leguizamo, who played artist Toulouse-Lautrec, and Catherine Martin, who won the Oscar for costume design and art direction. Hosted by MTV News' Josh Horowitz, the live stream will include special appearances and live interviews while looking back at how the film came to be and how its legacy continues to grow.
To get in on the fun, fans can submit questions for the "Moulin Rouge" director and talent via the @MTVNews Twitter handle with the hashtag #AskMoulin.
Don't miss "Moulin Rouge at 10: A Spectacular Spectacular MTV News Event" on Monday at 3 p.m. ET on MTV.com! Get in the conversation by tweeting @MTVNews with the hashtag #AskMoulin.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Coldplay, Led Zeppelin Album Covers Featured On New British Stamps
Album art from Pink Floyd, Blur and David Bowie also included.
By James Montgomery
Coldplay's new British stamps
Photo: Royal Mail
On Thursday (January 7), the U.K.'s Royal Mail unveiled a series of 10 new stamps, honoring the most iconic album covers of the past 40 years.
The albums featured in the new series are the Rolling Stones' Let It Bleed, Led Zeppelin's IV, David Bowie's The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells, The Clash's London Calling, New Order's Power, Corruption and Lies, Primal Scream's Screamadelica, Pink Floyd's The Division Bell, Blur's Parklife and — the most recent album on to make the cut — Coldplay's A Rush of Blood to the Head.
Meant to honor "the most potent graphic images of modern times, many of which have provided a visual soundtrack to people's lives," the series is the end result of a lengthy research process by the Royal Mail, who looked through thousands of album covers by British artists before deciding on the final list. And, during a Wednesday night BBC Radio broadcast, it was revealed that the queen herself actually approved each design.
Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page — who helped design the cover for IV — was on hand to celebrate the release of the stamps and recalled the mysterious nature of the album's iconic imagery.
"Almost 40 years after the album came out, nobody knows the old man who featured on the cover, nor the artist who painted him," he said. "That sort of sums up what we wanted to achieve with the album cover, which has remained both anonymous and enigmatic at the same time."
Of course, any great honor is befitting of an equally great contest, so, on the same day the stamps were made available to the general public, Coldplay decided to give one of their Rush of Blood stamps away. In a message on their official site, the band held a contest to send one lucky fan "a letter using a Coldplay stamp, postmarked with today's issue date."
"We visited our local post office earlier today and bought some of the Coldplay stamps," the message read. "Very nice they are too."
Related Photos Related ArtistsWednesday, April 27, 2011
Michael Jackson - Beat It
- Artist: Michael Jackson
- Label: Epic Records
- Director: Bob Giraldi
- Album: Thriller [Bonus Tracks]
Beyonc� - Sweet Dreams
- Artist: Beyoncé
- Label: Columbia, Music World Music
- Director: Adria Petty
- Album: I Am...Sasha Fierce
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Beyonc� - Video Phone (Extended Remix)
- Artist: Beyoncé
- Label: Columbia, Music World Music
- Director: Hype Williams
- Album: I Am...Sasha Fierce
Lady Gaga Debuts 'Glee' Clip From 'Born This Way' Episode
Singer took to Facebook to share 50-second teaser that shows Mr. Schuester giving New Directions Gaga assignment.
By James Dinh
Lady Gaga
Photo: Bryan Bedder/ Getty Images
"Glee" is ready to go Gaga all over again. But this time, the New Directions gang will not only pay tribute to the pop star, they'll also embrace themselves in an episode devoted to self-acceptance.
Lady Gaga took to her Facebook on Friday (April 22) and premiered a clip from the highly anticipated episode, which airs Tuesday. In the preview, Mr. Schuester tells the club they'll be performing songs of self-love, including a group number of the singer's hit "Born This Way."
Finn Hudson (Cory Monteith) kicks off the 50-second teaser by asking Mr. Schuester (Matthew Morrison) why Ms. Pillsbury (Jayma Mays) is attending their glee club meeting. Schuester tells the students that the guidance counselor will be helping out with the weekly assignment.
"Now, this is the only club at school that is represented by just about every race, religion, sexual orientation and clique, but many of are you are still having a hard time with acceptance," he says.
Despite rebuttals from the students, the club director explains that while they may embrace one another, they still don't accept themselves — for all of their good and bad qualities. Mr. Schuester then reveals the two-part assignment: singing tunes of self-acceptance that highlight their best and worst aspects, as well as performing "Born This Way."
"We're going to do a group number by the queen of self-love, Gaga. We're going to perform her anthem to acceptance, 'Born This Way,' " he tells the students, who break into cheers and applause.
Back in January, "Glee" creator Ryan Murphy opened up about why he chose to feature the hit song in the episode, which has been super-sized to 90 minutes. "I love that that song is [an] anthem," Murphy told Entertainment Weekly. "This show is by nature optimistic, and I think a character like Karofsky could turn to booze or pills or alcohol and kill themselves or do something dark. But I also love Max [Adler, the actor] and I love that character and I sorta want that character to have a happy ending. So I don't really know what that's going to be, but I do know we're going to do a whole episode that's about that song."
Are you excited for the "Born This Way" episode of "Glee"? Weigh in below!
Related Videos Related ArtistsMonday, April 25, 2011
Andy Grammer Wins O Music Awards' Most Innovative Video
'Keep Your Head Up' tops Robyn's 'Killing Me'; O Music Awards stream live Thursday at 11 p.m. ET on OMusicAwards.com and MTV.com.
By Gil Kaufman
Andy Grammer in his "Keep Your Head Up" music video
Photo: S-Curve Records
What is innovation? That was the question facing a panel of experts Monday (April 25) during the O Music Awards' Most Innovative Music Video live debate presented by FUZE®, in which the merits of the five finalists were debated and such icons as music-video director Wayne Isham ('NSYNC, Metallica) and music executive/ Global14.com founder Jermaine Dupri attempted to pick a winner.
Among the nominees were video mavens OK Go's "Back From Kathmandu," a flash-mob-style piece in which the band led a parade through the streets of Los Angeles. "That's what's nice about videos today period, they don't have to be traditional videos. ... They can be hybrids of a couple of different things if you want them to be," said bandmember Tim Nordwind. The video was a mash-up documentary of OK Go getting together with friends to play their songs as they walked down the streets (and are tracked by a GPS system that followed them for eight hours as they spelled out the band's name) as well as a traditional clip with a narrative.
For Isham, who traveled around Los Angeles himself for Mötley Crüe's "Girls, Girls, Girls" clip, the OK Go effort didn't feel so innovative, while Mashable's Brenna Ehrlich said it wasn't memorable enough to warrant the prize, admitting she didn't even remember what song it was for.
Au Revoir Simone's interactive coloring-book effort for the $500 "Knight of Wands" clip took a simplistic approach, with an unseen hand moving a cursor to add color to a simple image of three women standing inside a mansion. Fans could make their own version and a Flickr page allowed them to upload their own takes on the effort.
Isham was shocked to hear that the band was able to pull off such a low-dough video, but he did like that they could do it on a shoestring and appreciated the ability of fans to get involved. "What's innovative: the budget, the film technique, the thought process?" asked Isham, speaking on behalf of directors, while Dupri said if you can make something for three figures that is seen as much as a video made for seven figures, that's innovative. Ehrlich loved that the video was made in flash and went viral, judging it to be innovative for that reason. "It didn't get popular because it cost $500," she said.
"It's not the price, it's the name. His videos mean something," Dupri said about the enduring mystique of having someone like fellow panelist Isham or Hype Williams helm your video.
When it came to the Arcade Fire's "We Used to Wait," a Chris Milk joint that was filmed and edited over three months, the director used a series of Google maps, satellite images and HTML videos to create what Google's Aaron Copeland called "an interactive HTML short." Because it uses the Google Maps app, the video is personalized for each user, bringing their location into the mix. Ehrlich said the clip was the epitome of using a new technology to create something fresh. "It's beyond a music video; it's an interactive music experience," she said.
Isham loved the imagery in the video, but would have been more immersed in the emotion of the music if he'd been able to find a Google spot near his hometown that was more resonant than a local gas station. "If it can only be seen and appreciated by techno nerds, is it art for art's sake?," Isham asked, after discussing with Dupri what the point was of a clip that looks great but is hard to find or you might not be able to watch on your computer if you don't have the technology.
"I think this is the future of the world," Dupri said. "This is what people actually want. The world wants to be involved in the things that we do ... all of these videos have that type of interaction."
When it came to the choose-your-own-adventure video for "Keep Your Head Up" from Andy Grammer, the most traditional performance-based "story" clip featuring the ability to customize by picking one of two choices on the screen, the panel was split. Dupri loved the song and felt the video was "crazy" creative but once again lamented that you can't "play" with it when it's on TV, which for decades was the traditional place to see videos.
Ehrlich didn't love the song, so it was hard for her to click through multiple times to see all the iterations. Isham said he's been intrigued by the idea of choose-your-own for years, having tried it with Metallica's live show with the San Francisco Symphony but was impressed with how seamless Grammer's effort video was.
Via Skype, Grammer explained that a company in Israel called Interlude came up with the technology that allows you to change direction based on what story line you want to go with. "It's just never been done before to this degree," Grammer said of why he thought his video belonged in the mix with the other artists.
Finally, they took on Robyn's "Killing Me," a 3-D, text-driven assault of words, phrases and geometric shapes that used Twitter to encourage fans to provide their own commentary. The singer said her idea with the album was to use her website to communicate in an interactive way with her fans. "We wanted to do something that felt real," she said of the decision to give the video (in which she doesn't appear) have its own Twitter feed. "I wanted to invite people into this complaining orgy that I'm doing."
Moderator and MTV News rock editor James Montgomery wondered if this one was Robyn's most innovative video or even a video at all. Writer Caryn Ganz loved that you can still tweet in text to the clip all these months later, which to her made it feel very contemporary. Isham, though smitten with Robyn, said the tension in the video got to him, while Ehrlich said she was over 3-D effects and didn't think the concept was that special.
"It's repetitive. ... I wouldn't watch this over and over again just to watch different hashtags," she said. Dupri was concerned about whether "Killing Me" is global enough and can reach people all over the world and not just those who have access to the technology.
The fans voted for Robyn, and the panel picked Grammer and Robyn as their other top two finalists. "I like both of the videos as far as innovation and the concept of what they were trying to bring to light," said Dupri, with Montgomery noting that they couldn't be more different, though both used the Internet to achieve their end goal.
In the end, Isham, Dupri and Ehrlich went with Grammer, while the fans and Ganz chose Robyn, giving the award to Grammer, who will pick up his magical cube during Thursday night's inaugural O Music Awards event.
The inaugural O Music Awards will stream live from Las Vegas at 11 p.m. ET/ 8 p.m. PT on OMusicAwards.com. Tune in to see who will reign supreme in categories like Most Viral Dance, Funniest Music Short and NSFW Music Video!
Related Videos Related ArtistsIt's (Almost) Official! Simon Cowell Reveals Final Two Judges On The X Factor!
Wow! It's ACTUALLY happening!
And personally, we couldn't be more PSYCHED! It's like the best of both worlds combining for the PERFECT reality show!
There has been a massive amount of speculation regarding who will fill the remaining two spots left on the judges panel of the American reboot of Simon Cowell's smash UK series, [...]
And personally, we couldn't be more PSYCHED! It's like the best of both worlds combining for the PERFECT reality show!
There has been a massive amount of speculation regarding who will fill the remaining two spots left on the judges panel of the American reboot of Simon Cowell's smash UK series, [...]
Adele Says Beyonce Helped Her Overcome Anxiety
British songstress talks stage fright and body image in Rolling Stone cover story.
By Gil Kaufman
Adele
Photo: Larry Busacca/ Getty Images
While she was besting Britney Spears on the American album charts and helping to lead a new British invasion, U.K. soul pop diva Adele also landed the cover of the upcoming issue of Rolling Stone magazine.
And though the cover marks yet another milestone of her rising fame, Adele isn't immune to some of the same fears as the rest of us, say, stage fright. Despite her calm assurance in the studio and apparent ease at coping with her sudden success, the Grammy winner told the magazine that she still has nervous nights.
"I'm scared of audiences," she said. "One show in Amsterdam I was so nervous, I escaped out the fire exit. I've thrown up a couple of times. Once in Brussels, I projectile vomited on someone. I just gotta bear it. But I don't like touring. I have anxiety attacks a lot."
And it's not just audiences that freak her out, it's other celebrities. But the singer revealed that she has drawn some strength from an unlikely source: Beyoncé. "I was about to meet Beyoncé and I had a full-blown anxiety attack," Adele said. "Then she popped in looking gorgeous, and said, 'You're amazing! When I listen to you I feel like I'm listening to God.' "
When she later found herself on a balcony, crying hysterically, Adele asked herself, " 'What would [Beyoncé's alter ego] Sasha Fierce do?' That's when Sasha Carter was born." The composite of Sasha Fierce and late country icon June Carter is pulled out whenever Adele needs to give herself a shot of confidence.
The 22-year-old also said that in a world of size 0-2 pop divas, she has no problem being a bit more voluptuous than her peers. "My life is full of drama, and I won't have time to worry about something as petty as what I look like," she said. "I don't like going to the gym. I like eating fine foods and drinking nice wine."
That said, Adele noted that while she's not likely to do any nude photo shoots anytime soon, she can totally appreciate the sight of her fellow female pop stars' naughty bits.
"Even if I had a really good figure, I don't think I'd get my t--- and a-- out for no one," she said. "I love seeing Lady Gaga's boobs and bum. I love seeing Katy Perry's boobs and bum. Love it. But that's not what my music is about. I don't make music for eyes. I make music for ears."
Related ArtistsSunday, April 24, 2011
Lindsay Lohan & Siblings Go To Six Flags Magic Mountain
Perhaps in an effort to celebrate her new acting gig in the upcoming Gotti biopic or maybe to take her mind off the fact that she has to be in court today to answer to Felony Grand Theft charges but Lindsay Lohan and her younger siblings — Michael Lohan, Jr. and Aliana Ali Lohan — [...]
Britney Spears Tour Invite 'Is Such An Honor,' Nervo Say
Aussie DJ duo tell MTV News they're ready to 'spread the Nervo love' on Femme Fatale tour.
By Jocelyn Vena
Nervo
Photo: Getty Images
Nervo's Mim and Liv will be joining Britney Spears this summer for her highly anticipated Femme Fatale tour, alongside Nicki Minaj and Jessie and the Toy Boys.
When the Aussie twins spoke to MTV News on Tuesday, the same day the tour lineup was announced, they seemed genuinely surprised by the news, calling the slot "such an honor."
"We have worked with her team of people for songwriting camps and stuff like that, but we've never met Britney. It's been a dream to have one of our record productions on her album, but we didn't get there this time," Mim said.
All the acts on the tour are female, so Liv thinks "it's going to be ladies night every night. I imagine we'll be playing some of our club releases," she added of Nervo's set. "It'll be a DJ set and very electronic and house-based. We're really excited to be able to warm everyone up with some sexy house music."
The girls are also excited about the prospect of meeting Britney. "I wonder if I'll be starstruck? I just love her. I just love her records. She always releases great pop records. I really respect her," Mim said.
"You hear rumors that [the openers] never really get to meet [the main acts]," Liv said. "I hope we get to hang out. We've been told we're going to be on an RV for a lot of it. I love the whole experience of being on a tour bus. I love the road."
Since the tour seems to be all about girl power, the two sassy ladies explained what makes them such femme fatales. "I guess we have a no-fear attitude," Mim said. "We don't let our being girls stop us. Certainly DJing is a very male-dominated [field], and we haven't let us being girls stop us."
Bottom line: They're hoping through their house-music set they can "spread the Nervo love."
Are you excited to see Nervo on Britney Spears' tour? Let us know in the comments!
Related ArtistsSaturday, April 23, 2011
'Bang Bang Club' Star Malin Akerman Talks Photographers' Deaths In Libya
'It is incredible how relevant ... this film is to what is going on in Libya,' she tells MTV News.
By Kara Warner, with reporting by Josh Horowitz
MTV News' Josh Horowitz and Malin Akerman
Photo: MTV News
Given the recent deaths of photojournalists Tim Hetherington and Chris Hondros, who were killed while covering the battles between rebels and Libyan government forces, the subject matter of the new film "The Bang Bang Club" could not be more timely.
The film revolves around the real-life story of four combat photographers who risked their lives to capture the brutality and violence associated with the first free elections in post-apartheid South Africa in the early '90s.
MTV News recently spoke to co-star Malin Akerman about the incredible circumstances now surrounding the film.
"It's crazy. No matter what, whether it be now or two years ago, the untimely death of Tim Hetherington and Chris [Hondros] is sad and really awful and incredible that it happened as this movie is coming out," she said, adding the fact that no matter where we are in time, there are always civil and religious wars raging in the world.
"It's never the wrong moment to shed light on it," Akerman said. "It is incredible how relevant ... this film is to what is going on in Libya. I hope people come out of this film and go, 'All right, let's look overseas and see what's happening and see what we can do.' "
Speaking to what motivates this specific "breed" of journalists to consistently put themselves in harm's way, Akerman said that it's not just about capturing unforgettable events on film, but also about the adrenaline rush.
"They're crazy. They really are adrenaline junkies," she said. "I just saw Greg Marinovich, who is one of the photographers [who inspired the film], and he walks around at all times with two cameras. ... He never leaves home without his cameras. It's a limb for them, it's an extension of their bodies, it's what they live for."
Check out everything we've got on "The Bang Bang Club."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
'Water For Elephants': The Reviews Are In!
What do critics think of Robert Pattinson's non-'Twilight' acting?
Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson in "Water For Elephants"
Photo: David James/FOX
"Twilight" films are never highly praised by critics. "New Moon" wallows at just a 29 percent approval rating at the Rotten Tomatoes review aggregator, and yet that film (like all in the franchise) has gone on to gross hundreds of millions of dollars at the box office.
Robert Pattinson's latest offering, the romantic drama "Water for Elephants," is similarly seeing mixed reviews thrown its way. And while, again like "Twilight," the film is based on a best-selling novel, "WFE" isn't expected to open with anything like the box-office bang Pattinson's vampire flicks have.
Yet his performance is garnering much critical praise. Oscar winner Christoph Waltz, too, is being lauded for his villainous turn. Reviews have also applauded the film's lush visuals, though they've also criticized it for subpar character development and an attempt to pack too much of the novel's story into the film. For those critiques and more, read on for what the pros are saying about "WFE":
The Story
" 'Water for Elephants' is partly a sawdust love story, partly a survival story. It opens with an old man's reminiscence, as Jacob Jankowski (Hal Holbrook) tells a young circus hand about his own Depression-era adventures under the big top. He didn't join the show out of any romantic impulses about carnival life. The well-planned veterinary career he expected was torpedoed by a family tragedy. And the first train he could hop just happened to be carrying roustabouts, a menagerie, a gorgeous trick rider, Marlena (Reese Witherspoon), and her possessive husband, the circus' owner and ringmaster, August (Christoph Waltz). That's where the romance enters in. And the survival drama, too." — Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune
The Performances
"Pattinson and Witherspoon, despite the limits of their earnest and fairly foolish characters, eke out a real spark of romance between them; several slow dances between them crackle with unspoken feelings, and even their lame flirty jokes feel genuine. Lurking over them both like some ghoul of violent circuses past is Waltz's August, essentially Hans Landa in the big top but less fun to be around. Waltz brings shades of honor and even pity to August, but the movie is written in such broad strokes of right and wrong that from the moment August beats Rosie with an iron bar, there's nothing to do but root for his inevitable downfall." — Katey Rich, Cinema Blend
The Visuals
"Visually, the film is a handsome thing. With the help of production designer Jack Fisk ('There Will Be Blood'), filmmaker Francis Lawrence ('I Am Legend') conjures a mostly believable world, circa 1931, of acrobats, sideshow entertainers, clowns and roustabouts down on their luck. You won't ever forget that you're watching a show, but it's a highly watchable show nonetheless." — Michael O'Sullivan, The Washington Post
The Adaptation
"Mr. Lawrence is so busy awkwardly jamming the novel's minor events together and introducing (before dropping) colorful minor characters who have so little screen time that they barely register, that the movie fails to develop a sense of wonder. ... As a piece of storytelling, the film displays its most disastrous choice when it makes the book's climatic rampage seem perfunctory. This sloppily directed scene, which ends almost as soon as it begins, leaves you feeling cheated out of a necessary cathartic release." — Stephen Holden, The New York Times
The Final Word
" 'Water for Elephants' is one of those big, extravagant-looking romances that you might automatically deem 'conventional' — except for the fact that almost nobody makes big, extravagant-looking romances anymore. That's the elephant in the room that the movie's director, Francis Lawrence, faces head on. Whatever his movie's flaws may be, he's alive to the wonder of spectacle, and he still believes in the old-fashioned idea of movie stars: Those with two legs, and especially those with four." — Stephanie Zacharek, Movieline
Check out everything we've got on "Water for Elephants."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
Related Videos- MTV First: Robert Pattinson
- 'Water For Elephants' Red Carpet Premiere
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Friday, April 22, 2011
Nicki Minaj's Top Pop Moments Before Britney Spears Tour
Here's a look at Nicki's journey from street star to pop sensation.
By James Montgomery
Nicki Minaj and Britney Spears
Photo: Getty Images
On Tuesday (April 12), after weeks of speculation, it was revealed that Nicki Minaj would be joining Britney Spears' upcoming Femme Fatale tour, replacing Enrique Iglesias, who dropped off the high-profile trek earlier this month.
It's a big look for Nicki, though, to some, her addition was a bit of a head-scratcher. After all, she's certainly not the traditional Britney opener, and with just one album (and some mixtapes) under her belt, it remains to be seen how Minaj's live show will translate to Spears' massive stage. Oh, and then there's the very legitimate question of whether the two artists' audiences are even aware of the other's existence.
Still, at this point, Minaj has done just about everything to prove those naysayers wrong — hit singles and platinum-plus albums tend to have that effect — and over the course of roughly three years, she's risen from street-DVD sensation to go-to guest star and, finally, to full-fledged pop sensation — and the Femme Fatale tour is proof.
So, as she prepares to head out on the road with Britney, let's take a look back at that transformation. Here are Nicki Minaj's top pop moments.
Mariah Carey's "Up Out My Face" video shoot, February 8, 2010: Nicki took her first step toward pop success when she filmed a video for the "Face" remix with Carey, an artist who knows a thing or two (hundred million) about that very topic. Other high-profile cameos would follow — most notably, her turn in Usher's "Lil Freak" video — but the march to the mainstream began with this candy-coated clip.
MTV Video Music Awards Pre-Show performance, September 12, 2010: Minaj chose an appropriately huge stage on which to make her solo TV debut — the 2010 VMA Pre-Show — and she made the most of it, dressing like a DayGlo cosmonaut (with a pink beehive) and teaming with the Black Eyed Peas' will.i.am for a delightfully over-the-top take on "Check It Out." With her proper first album less than two months away, the VMAs served not only as a launching pad, but as a warning that big things were on the horizon.
Pink Friday debuts at #2, December 1, 2010: She couldn't quite make it to #1 (at least not yet) — after all, she had Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy to contend with — but Minaj's runner-up bow wasn't a failure by any stretch. With sales of more than 375,000, Pink Friday posted the highest first-week numbers of any female MC since Lauryn Hill's classic The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill all the way back in 1998.
"Moment 4 Life" video premiere, January 27, 2011: With Pink Friday still riding high on the charts, Minaj gave it a charge with the premiere of her biggest, poppiest video to date: "Moment 4 Life," a gilded, glamorous fairy tale brought to life. Co-starring her Twitter beau Drake (and, of course, Minaj herself as a fairy godmother), it's pure pop bliss in every sense of the word. Not surprisingly, the song is her highest-charting top 40 track to date.
"Saturday Night Live" performance, January 30, 2011": As a New York native, Minaj called her "SNL" performance "monumental." As an artist making that final push toward crossover success, the gig was equally important. Not only did she wow audiences with her onstage actions, but her cameos in a pair of sketches — most notably, Digital Short "The Creep" with the Lonely Island — proved that she could provide the laughs too.
Pink Friday Finally Reaches #1, February 9, 2011: Building off that "SNL" success, in February — more than three months after it was first released — Pink Friday finally made it to #1 on the Billboard albums chart, and, in the process, cemented Minaj's status as a star with staying power. Up until landing the Britney tour, this remained Nicki's poppiest moment to date — though who knows what will happen when she hits the road with Ms. Spears?
What do you think of Nicki joining Britney on tour? Let us know in the comments!
Related Photos Related Artists
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Smoke DZA Calls His Solo Success 'A Blessing'
Harlem MC ditches his street ways for a hip-hop hustle, in Mixtape Daily.
By Rob Markman
Smoke DZA
Photo: Courtesy of Smoke DZA
Fire Starter: Smoke DZA
Harlem rapper Smoke DZA is experiencing an all-time high, thanks to the change in his hustle-heavy lifestyle. He's currently on the road with Big K.R.I.T. on the Cinematic/ Def Jam rapper's Return of 4eva Tour and has also recently released his third solo Internet album THC (The Hustler's Catalog), but his future didn't always look so bright.
"I'm really talking about the game -- the other side and past stuff that I've been through in the street," DZA said of the subject matter on THC. "Just being able to talk about that right now and not talk about that [from jail] is a blessing, because it could have went a different way."
Smoke may have started out on the street hustling, but rap proved to be his true calling. He started his career as one-half of the local New York rap duo Smoke & Numbers in 2004, but split from the group, went solo and dropped Substance Abuse in 2009. DZA followed the next year with his follow-up project George Kush Da Button. It was George Kush that made Smoke a fan favorite and got him the exposure needed to take his show on the road. In 2010, DZA embarked on Curren$y's Smoker's Club Tour, a 40-city trek that also included artists such as Big K.R.I.T. and Dom Kennedy. "George Kush was the beginning of what you are seeing now," DZA said.
Now, with THC, Smokey seems to have really hit his stride. The album, which is available as a free download on his website, features lyrical contributions from other notable rap rooks like Kendrick Lamar ("Uptown 81") and Kid Daytona ("Cool Sh--"), as well as beats from Hit-Boy and the highly demanded Lex Luger ("Loaded").
Building a foundation was key, and now Smoke said he's booked for shows throughout the year, including K.R.I.T.'s current Return of 4eva run and another tour with Curren$y next month. Still, DZA, who is independently signed to Cinematic Music Group, isn't about to let his life on the road interfere with his recording process. The marijuana-influenced MC is looking to drop Substance Abuse 2 as a retail release in September and another untitled project at the end of the year. Things have been going so well for Smoke, he intends to remain independent for as long as he can.
"I like the independent route right now because I get to keep all of my bread and don't have to cut nobody in," he said. "I would love to get under that [major label] machine someday when the situation is right, but right now, I feel like being independent is the best way for me."
For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.
Related ArtistsWednesday, April 20, 2011
?X-Men: First Class? Releases A New Promo Image Of Charles Xavier & Erik Lehnsherr
Last month, the official Facebook profile for X-Men: First Class released a promo image of Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) and Beast (Nicholas Hoult) and today we get to see a newly released promo image of Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Erik Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender). The shot is from an action scene that we will see in [...]
Glimmer & Marvel Have Been Cast In ?The Hunger Games?
Casting news for the film adaptation of The Hunger Games keeps coming at us fast and furious this week. Just yesterday we learned that actress Elizabeth Banks has won the role of Effie Trinket in the upcoming film trilogy and previously we learned that newcomers Amanda Stenberg and Dayo Okeniyi won the roles of District [...]
Beyonce's 'Girls' Video Will Be 'Big,' Director Says
'Water for Elephants' helmer Francis Lawrence opens up about shooting the diva's video.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Josh Horowitz
Beyoncé
Photo: Getty
Francis Lawrence confirmed to MTV News at the "Water for Elephants" premiere on Sunday that he had just wrapped up work on Beyoncé's new video. And the director promised that this clip will live up to the expectations that have been building since photos from the set began leaking.
"I just shot a Beyoncé video at the beginning of this last week, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, which was fun, and I hadn't done a video since 2009," he said, referring to the VMA-winning video for Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance."
Lawrence went on to confirm a few more details about the song, without giving away too much of anything, per B's orders. "The video's for the songs 'Girls'; it's off her new album," he said. "She would probably have me shot if I said anything. ... Some stuff spilled out, but she wasn't happy about it, so I've been sworn to secrecy."
What spilled was some looks from the video, as well as details that there will be lots of dancing in the clip. "It'll be big, it'll probably be one of the bigger Beyoncé music videos ever done," he added. "And, I can say that I think the song is unbelievable."
The director noted that artists have definitely stepped up their video game in recent years and once again made visuals a vital part of their work. He gives some credit for that to Lady Gaga, as well as a number of Lawrence's past collaborators, like Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez and the Black Eyed Peas.
"The Gaga thing took me by surprise, 'cause I've done videos for probably 15 years, and I had forgotten what it felt like to have a video premiere and have it be anticipated and have it explode," he explained. "And yeah I hope the same for Beyoncé, but I don't know if that's gonna happen. It is a fantastic song, so I really hope that song catches for her, and I think the video's gonna be really fun and cool and different for her."
Related ArtistsTuesday, April 19, 2011
Lady Gaga Drops 'Judas' Early
Dark, synthy track premiered on London radio station on Friday.
By Jocelyn Vena
Lady Gaga
Photo: Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic
When you're Lady Gaga, scheduled premiere dates mean absolutely nothing. Her next single, "Judas," was originally slated to drop April 19, but Capital FM in London played the song days earlier, during the radio station's "Home Run" program on Friday afternoon (April 15).
The RedOne-produced track finds Gaga in familiar territory, singing about a lover she knows might not be right for her, but whom she just can't resist. "Ohhh, I'm in love with Judas," she opens on the track, accompanied by building synths. Soon a thumping electronic beat kicks in as Gaga sings, "Judahhh/ Juda-a-ah/ Gaga." The battle cry is reminiscent of the one in "Bad Romance."
Gaga's vocals are partially spoken, and at times she seems to have a Caribbean accent. She laments, "When he comes to me I am ready/ I'll wash his feet with my hair if he needs/ Forgive him when his tongue lies through his brain/ Even after three times, he betrays me/ I'll bring him down, I came with no crown."
The tone lightens up a bit more on the song's chorus, which throws back to '80s pop in melody, as the beat picks up a bit and Gaga sings, "I'm just a holy fool/ Oh, baby, he's so cruel/ But I'm still in love with Judas, baby."
After the second verse and chorus, the song breaks down into a churning house song as Gaga chants in much the same way she does in the middle of "Born This Way." Then she sings, "I wanna love you/ But something's pulling me away from you/ Jesus is my virtue, Judas is the demon I cling to, I cling to."
A day before she decided to release the track early, Gaga tweeted this message for her fans: "#PawsUpForJudas! I've learned love is like a brick, you can build a house or sink a dead body."
The song is Born This Way's second single, following the phenomenal success of "Born This Way." The album hits stores on May 23, and the video for "Judas," directed by Gaga and her creative director Laurieann Gibson, is expected to premiere in the coming weeks.
"Let the cultural baptism begin," Gaga said of the track in a Gagavision video earlier this month. "If they were not who you were taught they would be, would you still believe?"
What do you think of Lady Gaga's "Judas"? Share your reviews in the comments!
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsNew Led Zeppelin On The Way? Jason Bonham Hints At 'Jam' Sessions With Jimmy Page -- But Not Robert Plant
Drummer admits he doesn't know what will come of 'new material.'
By Chris Harris
Jason Bonham
Photo: Larry Marano/ Getty Images
On Friday morning, mere hours before he was due to take the stage with classic rockers Foreigner at Detroit's GM Renaissance Center, drummer Jason Bonham — the son of late Led Zeppelin kitman John Bonham — told Jim Johnson and Lynne Woodison of local rock station 94.7 WCSX that he'd be an ex-member of Foreigner as of September 1. But that's not the only thing he said.
Much to the delight of Led Zeppelin fans everywhere, Bonham revealed that he's been meeting up with Led Zep guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist John Paul Jones in recent months and that they've been "trying to do some new material and writing."
It was the first time since Led Zeppelin announced they would re-form for a single performance (which happened late last year at London's O2 Arena, in honor of the late Ahmet Ertegün, who signed the band to Atlantic Records in 1969) that anyone connected to the band has confirmed publicly that new music could be on the horizon for the iconic rockers. While the bandmembers have stopped short of definitively ruling out such a reunion, singer Robert Plant insisted in the wake of last year's show that he intended to focus on promoting and touring behind his critically lauded album with bluegrass artist Alison Krauss, Raising Sand.
Not that Bonham knows what — if anything — will happen with the new material he's been working on with Page (who collaborated with pop singer Leona Lewis on an uneven version of Zep's "Whole Lotta Love" at the Olympic closing ceremonies in Beijing on Sunday night) and Jones. He said he just shows up and takes his seat behind the kit.
"I've been over [to England] a couple of times," Bonham said. "I've been working with Jimmy and John Paul and trying to do ... some new material and some writing. I don't know what it will be, but it will be something. At the moment, all I know is I have the great pleasure to go and jam with the two guys and start work on some material. When I get there, I never ask any questions. If I get a phone call to go and play, I enjoy every moment of it. Whatever it ends up as, to ever get a chance to jam with two people like that, it is a phenomenal thing for me. It's my life. It's what I've dreamed about doing."
He said it's still too early to tell what will become of these "jam" sessions, but admitted that the "possibility of doing something is in the cards. I really felt it was in the cards from the moment we walked offstage at the O2." Bonham also explained that, before there could be a Led Zep LP, "lots of politics [would need to] get ironed out," but added that recording with Zep is "something I've always wanted to do."
Bonham noticeably didn't mention frontman Plant's name during the discussion. A spokesperson for Page's management had no comment on the matter, and a spokesperson for Jones' management could not be reached by press time.
Related ArtistsMonday, April 18, 2011
Justin Bieber Passes Michael Jackson's Box-Office Record
'Justin Bieber: Never Say Never' has outgrossed MJ's 'This Is It' in U.S.
By Gil Kaufman
Justin Bieber in "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never"
Photo: Paramount Pictures
Michael Jackson may have dubbed himself the King of Pop, but the late icon didn't hold the box-office crown for long. Less than a year after the posthumous MJ documentary "This Is It" became the most successful concert-themed film in U.S. history, Justin Bieber is poised to snatch the mantle.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never" has earned $72.2 million in domestic box office so far, passing Jackson's $72.1 million haul. And while Bieber has racked up those impressive numbers in just six weeks, he's got a long way to go before he laps the global receipts for the MJ doc.
"This Is It" has grossed $189.1 million overseas for a global total of $261.2 million. Music films don't typically play well overseas, and THR noted that "Never Say Never" has grossed a more modest $10.8 million overseas so far, with Paramount executives predicting that it could top out around $20 million internationally.
The impressive U.S. numbers were likely goosed by the re-release of the film recently with 40 additional minutes of bonus footage from director Jon M. Chu. Bieber still has a little way to go to climb the list of the top-grossing documentaries of all time. "Never Say Never" is currently stalled out at the #3 position, around $5 million behind "March of the Penguins," according to Box Office Mojo, and well short of the all-time record held by Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11," which has taken in $119.1 million to date.
Bieber set off a classic MJ-style fan frenzy a few weeks ago when he visited Liverpool, England, for his world tour. And just a week later, he posed with his new wax figure at London's Madame Tussauds, checking off another item on the list of milestones to an MJ-like career.
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsLady Gaga's 'Born This Way' Bollywood Remix Is 'Magical,' Producers Say
Composers Salim-Sulaiman says Gaga had a 'very positive response' to their version.
By Jocelyn Vena
Lady Gaga
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage
Shortly after dropping a country-fried version of "Born This Way," Indian composers Salim-Sulaiman were approached to do a Bollywood version of the song, breathing new life into the chart-topping track and putting their own Desi seal on it.
"It was kind of difficult to start with," Sulaiman Merchant told MTV News, crediting entertainment website Desi Hits! for helping to curate the collaboration. "It's been such a big track, it's been very popular, and when you consider the style, it's very aggressive. It's got all the stuff that's required to make it a nice clubby track, so for us, the most important thing was: How do you get it into a zone where it's palpable to the Indian flavor? And the first thing we did was bring in a sitar, and that changed the flavor a little bit. We kept the aggression but changed the style and made it a little more four on the floor, a little more house."
Salim Merchant added that "we wanted to bring in an Indian sound ... and give a Sufi touch as well." He explained that after getting over some initial nerves, "It's fantastic how it all turned out. There was this little pressure because the song was #1. I guess once we put that baggage behind ... it was magical. Once we started it, everything came into place. It became a celebration."
While Gaga is a global superstar, Sulaiman said she has yet to really permeate India's pop culture. "Lady Gaga hasn't been as popular as we would like it to be over here, so this track wasn't as big before," he said. "We finished the mix, and now it's getting into the zone where it's gaining popularity. It's a great way to get eyeballs and ears onto Lady Gaga."
Has Gaga given the guys any indication of how she feels about the track? "She has liked it," Salim said. "She did mention she really loves it. When we did send her the final version, we did get a big very, very positive response. She really loved it. That's what she mentioned. I'm really happy. Finally the artist is Gaga about the song."
What do you think of the Bollywood version of "Born This Way"? Let us know in the comments!
Related Photos Related ArtistsJanet Jackson Thrills Fans With Greatest Hits, Michael Tribute At Radio City
Singer covered songs ranging from classic 'Pleasure Principle' to 2008's 'Feedback' at New York show.
By Vaughn Schoonmaker
Janet Jackson (file)
Photo: Christopher Polk/ Getty Images
NEW YORK — Often imitated, never duplicated, Janet Jackson's outbursts of meticulous choreography, sassy exclamations and smoldering gazes into the audience kept them on their feet for the entire two-hour set of her greatest hits at Radio City Music Hall. Monday night marked the last of three sold-out shows at the historic venue on her monumental Number Ones: Up Close and Personal Tour.
Up-and-coming boy band Mindless Behavior opened the show with songs including "#1 Girl," "Future" and their debut single, "My Girl." With their Usher-esque dance moves and shouts like "Where the ladies at?" the boys brought the tween girls out of hiding, judging by the shrill screams escaping various corner of the music hall.
At 9:00 sharp, the lights went down and Janet's fans were on the edge of their seats, watching music videos for "The Best Things in Life Are Free" and "Rhythm Nation" projected on big screens across the venue. A small shadow drifted toward center stage, and when the colorful lights came up, Jackson, wrapped in a shoulder-padded catsuit, complete with slick short hair, blasted into "The Pleasure Principle," dancing as hard and intensely choreographed as she did when the song first came out in the 1980s.
With barely a spare second between songs, Janet dazzled her way through her biggest hits, including "Miss You Much," "All for You" and "Nasty," and more recent hits like 2008's "Feedback."
Videos displayed during Jackson's costume changes included vintage clips from "Diff'rent Strokes," a funny scene from "Poetic Justice" where Jackson slyly rejects the advances of Tupac Shakur's character, and a rather heavy scene, as Jackson's character in "Why Did I Get Married" destroys her husband's house with a golf club, screaming hysterically.
Considering the tough couple of years the Jackson family has faced, the dark moments in the video seemed fitting, and everyone was beside themselves with bittersweet joy when Michael Jackson's face popped up on the big screen and she performed their hit single "Scream."
Janet emerged for her encore in a tight white one-piece disco suit, and performed "Diamonds," "Make Me" and "Together Again," which appeared to be the biggest hit of the evening. As Jackson graciously bowed out, her straight face transitioned into a smirk, suggesting that despite the hard times she has experienced recently, we can expect to see this singing and dancing pop legend shine far into the future.
"Its amazing!" Janet fan Elena Mercantini gleamed afterward. "It's like she's still 20 years old!"
"She's hot, she's amazing and she's still got it after all these years" added Alison Klinger of Long Island. "Best concert I've ever been to!"
Related Photos Related ArtistsSunday, April 17, 2011
Ke$ha Says Her Own Britney-Style All-Girl Tour Will Be All Guys
'Blow' singer is psyched for the summer leg of her Get $leazy Tour with Spank Rock, LMFAO.
By Gil Kaufman
Ke$ha
Photo: MTV News
There's certainly something to be said for girl power. Ke$ha felt it when she hit the road with Rihanna last year, when the two apparently engaged in a variety of high jinks, including some alleged backstage pillow fights.
But when MTV News caught up with the glitter-soaked party girl on Wednesday just hours before her show at New York's Roseland Ballroom and asked her who she might bring along if she were able to put together a Britney Spears-style all-girl tour, Ke$ha didn't hesitate to name her posse.
Sitting cross-legged on a couch in black tights, black cowboy boots, black leather gloves and sleeveless black rocker T-shirt, Ke$ha told us that her all-girl lineup would actually be, well, all guys. "All-girl fantasy tour?" she said, staring up at the ceiling for a moment and contemplating the idea. "I mean, I play nice with chicks. I actually put together my personal fantasy tour and I just announced the second leg of my Get $leazy Tour and that's gonna be: me and LMFAO and Spank Rock."
And while the upcoming outing will be light on the estrogen — much like the first leg of her $leazy tour, on which she is sharing the stage with party-rap dude Beardo — Ke$ha insisted that it still will offer what her fans have come to expect from her shows. "It's not an all-girls tour, but it's gonna be f---ing sleazy," she maintained.
That macho vibe has been on display during to the winding-down first leg of the $leazy fest, which Ke$ha has nicknamed the "I Can Do Whatever We Want Tour." So, what kind of perks come with being a first-time headliner? "Blasting glitter violently at people, even if they don't want it," said Ke$ha. "It's like they don't even have a choice. It is a little volatile, but I do it anyways. I feel like people know me for my glitter and I don't want to disappoint."
Are you planning to see Ke$ha on the next leg of her Get Sleazy tour? Tell us in the comments.
Related Videos Related ArtistsTaylor Lautner Talks Kissing Lily Collins In 'Abduction'
'If you're in the moment and you are literally living these characters, you forget about everything else,' he tells MTV News.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Josh Horowitz
Taylor Lautner
Photo: MTV News
Taylor Lautner joked with MTV News during Wednesday's "MTV First: Taylor Lautner" interview that kissing his "Abduction" co-star Lily Collins was "so unfortunate."
After laughing off his kissing scenes with the rising star, he admitted that he actually felt quite comfortable getting romantic with her.
"I mean, I think it depends. It depends on the person and your vibe together, 'cause sometimes it can totally be awkward," he explained. "But if you're in the moment and you are literally living these characters, you forget about everything else, then it's fine. It was totally fine."
Recently, Collins spoke to MTV News about her "Twilight"-hunk co-star and had nothing but praise for the 19-year-old actor. She even teased that, while he's not as shirtless in this film as he is in "The Twilight Saga," there are definitely "some steamy moments in the movie."
She added: "There is romance, but it's also partners-in-crime, we're going through everything together."
Lautner said that while the two were relative strangers when they began shooting the action film, Collins became his rock onscreen. "I didn't know her very well. I had met her a couples times, but she blew me away. She was awesome," he explained. "She's extremely talented. Whenever [my character] Nathan crumbles, she has to always be there to support him. And she was."
So what was it like to play someone other than Jacob Black? "It's a great story, it's a great character, there are a lot of great characters, there's a lot of action, it's fun," Lautner said after debuting the "Abduction" trailer on MTV. "Also, I knew it was going to be challenging, so I was looking forward to that."
Check out everything we've got on "Abduction."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
Related Videos Related PhotosSaturday, April 16, 2011
Michael Jackson's 'Thriller': Story Behind The 'Glee' Cover
MJ classic is mashed up with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' 'Heads Will Roll' for post-Super Bowl episode.
By Aly Semigran
"Glee"
Photo: FOX
Madonna, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and now, finally, Michael Jackson. The cast of "Glee" has covered plenty of icons during their first two seasons, but it's taken 33 episodes to get around to the King of Pop.
With a huge catalog of Jackson songs, the singing, dancing students of McKinley High paid homage to the late singer with one of his biggest staples (and, arguably, the greatest music video of all time) with their take on "Thriller."
The groundbreaking single from Jackson's best-selling album of the same name was mashed up with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' "Heads Will Roll" for the post-Super Bowl episode (titled "The Sue Sylvester Bowl Shuffle"), featuring a zombie-fied "Glee" cast.
Bound to become a smash all over again (though with its nonstop rotation at Halloween parties and wedding receptions until the end of time, it's never truly gone away), here's a brief history of the dance/pop classic.
Released on January 23, 1984, "Thriller" was the seventh, and final, single to be released from Jackson's smash record. According to the RIAA, the album (released by Epic Records) has gone gold 29 times, narrowly edging out the Eagles' Greatest Hits 1971-1975 for the title of best-selling album of all time.
In 2009, MTV News estimated that the Thriller album was poised to go triple diamond, meaning 30 million records sold in the U.S. alone.
After Thriller's other singles (including "Billie Jean," "Beat It" and "Wanna Be Startin' Something") dominated the charts, it was time for the spooky, undeniably original track to take over. The song "Thriller" also appeared on many of Jackson's other albums, including the compilations HIStory and Number Ones.
Clocking in at a little under six minutes (though the radio edit was closer to four-and-a-half), the song features pop-music mainstays like synthesizers but shakes things up with its spooky sound effects, including creaking floors, howling and thunder.
The song was produced by Quincy Jones and written and composed by Rod Tempterton and spent 14 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #4.
But it's the music video for "Thriller" that truly made it the phenomenon it was in the '80s and continues to be today. Less a music video than a mini-motion picture, the video (over 13 minutes long and directed by John Landis) won three MTV Video Music Awards and has been named the best music video of all time by many outlets, including VH1 for the special "VH1: 100 Greatest Videos."
The chiller features Jackson in that iconic red leather jacket on a date with his girlfriend (played by Ola Ray) before things go terribly awry. After all, as Jackson (whose disclaimer at the start of the video reads, "This film in no way endorses a belief in the occult") sings in the opening line, "It's close to midnight and something evil's lurking in the dark." Cue werewolves, zombies, Vincent Price's soliloquy and one of the most memorable dance sequences ever.
The video was (no pun intended) a monster hit. As the Los Angeles Times notes, "At the height of the song's popularity, MTV would run the 14-minute 'Thriller' video twice an hour."
Choreographed by Jackson and Michael Peters (who, as the LA Times also reported, appears in the video as one of the zombies) and with makeup by Oscar-winner Rick Baker (also an undead "Thriller" extra) was made with a huge budget of an estimated $500,000.
Still, the efforts paid off. Landis (who told the "Today" show back in 2009 that no one wanted to give them the funds to make the risky vid) made the accompanying 45-minute documentary about the venture, called "The Making of Thriller." Featuring the behind-the-scenes wizardry, as well as the music video in full, it would go on to move more than 10 million copies.
Since then, the signature song and video have seen their share fair of tributes in movies (notably in the 2004 comedy"13 Going on 30") and TV ("South Park," "Family Guy," "30 Rock," among others), not to mention the countless flash mobs that have gone viral. (Remember the prisoners in the Philippines who became overnight phenomenons on YouTube?)
Even with the "Glee" number, this likely won't be the last incarnation of "Thriller." Billboard reported in October that a "Thriller" film is in the works. With a plot allegedly revolving around Price's narration, Kenny Ortega, who directed Jackson's last effort, "This Is It," will reportedly helm the project.
Since Jackson's untimely passing on June 25, 2009, the song and video's legacy continue to live on. In the week following Jackson's death, "Thriller" was the best-selling track in the U.S., with sales of 167,000 copies on the Billboard Hot Digital Singles chart.
Then, in December 2009, "Thriller" was the first music video to ever be inducted into the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. It seems "no mere mortal can resist ... the thriller" after all.
What did you think of the "Thriller" mash-up on "Glee"? Let us know in the comments!
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