Netflix CEO Reed Hastings probably wasn’t prepared for the earful (or Internetz-full) he received last month when he announced plans to spin-off Netflix’s DVD rentals into a new company called Qwikster. “It is clear that for many of our members two websites would make things more difficult,” he wrote in a blog post today. “So we are going to keep Netflix as one place to go for streaming and DVD s.” Read on for more flip-flopping, and rejoice?
Our sister blog Deadline is reporting that the surprise sneak screening tonight at the New York Film Festival — showcasing a “work in progress from a master filmmaker” — will be Martin Scorsese’s Hugo . If true, it would be Scorsese’s second film to screen at this year’s NYFF (after George Harrison: Living in the Material World ) and a considerable risk for Paramount, which would be exhibiting the uncompleted 3-D film in one of the tougher filmgoing environments known to man. Movieline will be there in any case; check back with us later on for a report. [via @NikkiFinke ]
‘I think that this movie works because of its humanity,’ director Shawn Levy says. By Kara Warner Hugh Jackman in “Real Steel” Photo: DreamWorks Pictures With its impressive TKO into first place at the box office this weekend, it’s no surprise that there is a “Real Steel” sequel already in the works. The cat was out of the bag back in April, when news leaked that the studio had already commissioned the film’s screenwriter/actor John Gatins to begin work on a second installment. So when MTV News caught up with director Shawn Levy at the movie’s premiere recently, we tried to get a few more details from him about the potential franchise. “Well, it has certainly been leaked that the studio would like us to make another one, and that’s based on the way we’ve seen the audience react to the movie — they react really emotionally. So we’ll see, if we’re lucky in the next month, for sure we’ll make another one,” Levy said. But what direction will the sequel go in? Will there be more robots? New characters? “I think that this movie works because of its humanity, so if we made a sequel, the humanity would remain the priority,” he said, only slightly dodging the question. When we tried the same line of questioning with the movie’s star, Hugh Jackman, he didn’t slightly dodge the question, he discarded it almost entirely. “Imagine asking a football player the night before the Super Bowl if he thinks they’ll make the Super Bowl next year,” he said with a smile, meaning that the first film will have to rake in plenty of cash before the studio signals for the go-ahead. “It’s a bit like that.” Levy was a bit more loose-lipped when he spoke about the subject with IndieWire , admitting that the story will continue with all of its major players. “I will produce and direct again, yeah. Hugh [Jackman]’s definitely in and, certainly, I can’t give away too much, but Dakota [Goyo], Evangeline [Lilly] and Hugh are all a big part of the sequel. It is the same characters, the next chapter. It delves into the fallout of the new fame and money that the Kentons are going to have as a result of the Zeus-Atom fight. It also delves into something I thought was a cool aspect of the movie that I didn’t have time to get into, which is the class warfare between the underground unsanctioned world of robot boxing and the monetized corporately funded league. The truth is, it’s not unlike the way boxing saw its popularity contested with the rise of a more violent, less rule-bound MMA.” Check out everything we’ve got on “Real Steel.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Videos MTV Rough Cut: Hugh Jackman
Roger Williams, a virtuoso pianist who topped the Billboard pop chart in the 1950s and played for nine U.S. presidents during a long career, passed away Saturday. He was 87. The electrifying stage performer and an adept improviser died at home in Los Angeles of complications from pancreatic cancer, according to reports. Williams’ 1955 hit “Autumn Leaves” is the only piano instrumental to reach No. 1 on the Billboard pop charts and remains the best-selling piano record of all time. Nicknamed the “pianist to the presidents,” Williams played for every commander in chief from Harry Truman to George W. Bush. He was a close friend to several. Williams was close friends with Jimmy Carter, with whom he shared a birthday. When the two men turned 80, Mr. Williams played at the Jimmy Carter Library. As a teenager, Williams had already scored his own 15-minute radio show on KRNT, broadcast live from a Des Moines, Iowa (his hometown), department store. Later he hosted a program on WHO, where he met a young sports announcer named Ronald “Dutch” Reagan. The two became friends – for over six decades. Williams moved to New York to study jazz at the Juilliard School of Music. He is credited with at least 22 hit singles from 37 commercially successful albums. He is not to be confused for the 17th Century English theologian for whom a Rhode Island university is named, or for JWoww’s huge boyfriend Roger Williams .
Justin Bieber Fa La La Ft Boys To Men Lyrics “Fa La La” Mistletoe Music Video All I Want Is You Christmas Love “Justin Bieber Mistletoe” “Justin Bieber Mistletoe Lyrics” “Justin Bieber Mistletoe Music Video” “Under The Mistletoe” JustinBieberVEVO VEVO Selena Gomez MTV EMA Awards VMA AMA CMA Live Performance “Never Say Never” Duet The Band Perry Usher Justin Bieber Under The Mistletoe Album Deluxe Tracklist Only Thing I Ever Get For Christmas Mistletoe The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) feat. Usher Santa Claus Is Coming To Town Fa La La feat. Boyz II Men All I Want For Christmas Is You Remix — Duet with Mariah Carey Drummer Boy feat. Busta Rhymes Christmas Eve All I Want Is You Home This Christmas feat. The Band Perry Silent Night Christmas Love Fa La La (Acapella) Pray Someday At Christmas Justin Bieber Grammys Grammy Awards Never Say Never Movie 3D Saturday Night Live Skit SNL Pray BabyJustin Bieber Never Say Never Movie Saturday Night Live Skit SNL The Roommate Church Lady Snookie Parody Live Baby Pray “Justin Bieber Saturday Night Live” “Justin Bieber SNL” “SNL Justin Bieber” “Saturday Night Live Justin Bieber” “Never Say Never” Movie Skit Music Video Official Lyrics Concert “Justin Bieber Baby” “Justin Bieber Pray” “Justin Bieber Never Say Never” Hot Cute Sexy New Superbowl Somebody To Love Best Buy Tron Ozzy Osbourne Commercial Commercial Justin Bieber Ride Lyrics Official Music Video The Daily Show Jon Stewart Pray Lyrics Never Say Never Movie … http://www.youtube.com/v/hWwMvLXqQeE?version=3&f=videos&app=youtube_gdata See the article here: Justin Bieber Fa La La Ft Boys To Men Lyrics Mistletoe Music Video All I Want Is You Christmas Love
Hugh Jackman flick’s ‘well-staged’ fighting sequences and father-son spats leave critics ‘pleasantly surprised.’ By Josh Wigler Hugh Jackman and Evangeline Lilly in Real Steel Photo: DreamWorks Pictures Moviegoers have proven their affection for gigantic robots smashing the ever-loving sparkplugs out of each other in the heat of war — thanks for that, Michael Bay! — but machines beating each other into a tarry pulp purely for sport in the middle of a heartfelt family drama? That’s something the Autobots and Decepticons have yet to cover. But it seems that “Real Steel,” from “Night at the Museum” director Shawn Levy and “Wolverine” leading man Hugh Jackman, is more than meets the eye. Those who originally targeted Levy’s first foray into the action arena as nothing more than a big-screen Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots have seemingly been proven wrong, with critics praising “Real Steel” for its strong performances, moving story and, yes, the primal pleasure derived from watching two cybernetic gladiators tear each other to bits. Read on for a veritable scrap heap of “Real Steel” reviews: The Story “Taking place in a not-too-distant future that’s neither utopian nor dystopian, but kind of semi-topian, ‘Real Steel’ follows Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman), a former boxer who participates in the sport of robot fighting. (According to the ‘Steel’ timeline, human boxers will get out of the game soon because they can’t hit hard enough to make audiences happy — so enjoy those humans pounding on each other while you still can.) In a world where there’s no more human boxing, Charlie is a charmer/degenerate/bum lugging around a scrappy bot who fights at state fairs. He’s not at the level of ‘league fights’ — you know, the World Robot Boxing League, which is known, because it must be, as ‘the show.’ ” — Linda Holmes, NPR The Man and his Boy “As Charlie, Jackman is mostly surface gloss — he knows how to work a greasy tee and a bad attitude, glaring and growling at everyone. He softens slightly with [Evangeline] Lilly’s Bailey (so nice to see her bruised, buff beauty back since ‘Lost’ wrapped). But it is with [Dakota] Goyo that Jackman warms up. Their father-son spats, truly some of the film’s best sparring, is what gives it heart. Not ‘Rocky’ heart, or ‘Raging Bull’ heart, mind you, but ‘Real’ enough.” — Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times The ‘Bot Bouts “The robot, despite its unyielding metallic expression and the glowing blue eyes, is surprisingly endearing, especially when he’s doing the pre-match two-step with Max. … As a ‘sparring’ robot meant only for practice fighting with other robots, he’s a long-shot contender in the ‘Rocky’ mold. But with ex-boxer Charlie’s moves — transmitted via voice command software — he’s suddenly got a shot at the title against the unbeaten Zeus. And, as in the original ‘Rocky’ mold … well, that would be too much of a spoiler. … Lovers of blood sport action (or perhaps crankcase oil in this case) are going to enjoy the well-staged fighting sequences, which are tension-filled and exciting and will have many writhing in their seats.” — Bruce DeMara, Toronto Star The Mechanic Message “As much as ‘Real Steel’ is an escapist pop confection, it forces you to consider the evolving relationship between humans and machines at a time when robots are replacing people in the workplace and in war. The movie doesn’t question our ever-deepening love affair with technology and foolish trust in it. As increasing numbers of people are kept mobile through spare parts, whether flesh, plastic or metal, we are ourselves becoming more droidlike every year. Behind it all is a collective fantasy of invulnerability, omnipotence and eternal life. ‘Real Steel’ at least acknowledges that machines require maintenance to be superhuman.” — Stephen Holden, New York Times The Verdict ” ‘Real Steel’ is a real movie. It has characters, it matters who they are, it makes sense of its action, it has a compelling plot. This is the sort of movie, I suspect, young viewers went to the ‘Transformers’ movies looking for. Readers have told me they loved and identified with their Transformers toys as children. [The robot] Atom must come close to representing their fantasies. Sometimes you go into a movie with low expectations and are pleasantly surprised.” — Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times Check out everything we’ve got on “Real Steel.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Videos MTV Rough Cut: Hugh Jackman MTV After Hours With Josh Horowitz
Obviously I know nothing about this Alexa Vega chick, you all know I hate to do research, but she seems to be yet another chick who looks kind of like Emmanuel Chriqui or Nina Dobrev or Demi Lovato or whichever one is popular right now. I don’t know what’s going on with all these sort of look-a-likes, but it’s really confusing me. Someone needs to tell my erection what’s going on. Whoever this one is, I wouldn’t mind spending a few hours investigating those powerful thighs of hers.
‘If you let Def Jam die, you’re gonna let a bit of the culture die,’ he tells ‘RapFix Live,’ fearing label’s lack of leadership could lead to its demise. By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway Irv Gotti Photo: Natasha Chandel/ MTV News When you think of the great Def Jam executives, Russell Simmons, Rick Rubin, Lyor Cohen and Kevin Liles all come to mind. But don’t forget to credit Irv Gotti with helping rebuild the legendary hip-hop label in the mid-1990s. After producing for Jay-Z ‘s independent debut, Reasonable Doubt, Gotti helped set up the now-infamous deal between Hov’s Roc-A-Fella and Def Jam. DMX , in all his multiplatinum glory, came next, and Ja Rule followed, all brought to Def Jam by Gotti. Now, the Murder Inc. founder wants to head the seminal rap record company. “I wanted to speak on this because I love the hip-hop culture with a deep, deep passion,” Irv Gotti said when he visited “RapFix Live” on Wednesday (October 5). “Def Jam is the light of that culture; Def Jam personifies the hip-hop culture. There is no other hip-hop label like Def Jam.” Irv acknowledged the contributions of late label executive Shakir Stewart but criticized former Def Jam Chairman and CEO L.A. Reid and said there hasn’t been a proper president at the company since Jay-Z left at the top of 2008. Gotti, like Violator’s Chris Lighty, has always had his name come up whenever rumors of who will take the label’s reins surface. “If you don’t want to hire me — the best man for the job, the man who will die for it — cool, I understand. You think I’m Suge Knight, you think the feds may come in here again if you hire me, cool,” the music producer said referring to the money-laundering charges he beat in 2005 . “Put somebody in there, because you not giving any sign or any indication that you care about my culture.” Gotti said the company that serves as a home to Rick Ross, Young Jeezy and Fabolous has a talented roster but needs leadership. Irv recalled the time when Cohen went to DMX’s Yonkers, New York, neighborhood to sign the rough-around-the-edges hitmaker. He also told host Sway a story about how Lyor once played basketball against the LOX at the famed Rucker Park. He’s also worried that if someone isn’t brought in soon, the label will eventually crumble. “This is helping our lives. This is a culture that is deep for us. You can’t let it die, and if you let Def Jam die, you’re gonna let a bit of the culture die,” Gotti pleaded passionately. “And the fact that you ain’t got no one up there leading the army and ain’t had nobody — you just let the artists come up there, give you a record and you put it out. That’s not what Def Jam is about.” Do you think Irv should lead Def Jam? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos ‘RapFix Live’ With Method Man And Irv Gotti Related Artists Irv Gotti Jay-Z DMX Ja Rule
From his work with Pixar to providing new ways to watch movies, late Apple co-founder was an innovator in more than just computers. By Josh Wigler Steve Jobs Photo: Getty Images There would be no Buzz Lightyear without Woody, no WALL-E without EVE, no Mike without Sully — just as there would be no Pixar without Steve Jobs, who died at age 56 on Wednesday (October 5). The visionary Apple co-founder, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2004, will likely be best remembered for his inventive imagination that was the lifeblood of a technological revolution. But moviemakers, actors, critics, cinephiles and more across the globe will also remember Jobs for giving life to some of the most moving and breathtaking feats of filmmaking the industry has ever seen: the award-winning and unforgettable works of Pixar. Steve Jobs almost singlehandedly brought the music industry into the future — here’s how. Originally founded in 1979 as a Lucasfilm computer arm called Graphic Group, the company was eventually acquired and renamed Pixar in 1986 by Jobs, freshly and famously ousted by Apple. Jobs, serving as the animation studio’s chairman and chief executive officer, led Pixar to Disney, a collaboration that has gifted generations with countless unforgettable works, ranging from 1995’s groundbreaking “Toy Story” all the way to 2011’s admittedly unbalanced “Cars 2.” Throughout its 25-year history, Pixar has filled our bellies with tales of comfort food, knocked our blocks off with incredible superheroics and broken our hearts with old people. The studio has been responsible for no less than 26 Academy Awards, including Best Animated Film wins for “Finding Nemo,” “WALL-E,” “Up” and “Toy Story 3,” with the latter two also nominated in the all-encompassing Best Picture category. Indeed, whether you’ve been aware of it or not, Jobs has been responsible for some of the most powerful storytelling of ours or any generation. Remember Steve Jobs’ many innovations by flipping through this photo gallery. “Steve Jobs was an extraordinary visionary, our very dear friend and the guiding light of the Pixar family. He saw the potential of what Pixar could be before the rest of us, and beyond what anyone ever imagined,” Pixar’s John Lasseter and Ed Catmull said in a joint statement about Jobs’ passing. “Steve took a chance on us and believed in our crazy dream of making computer animated films; the one thing he always said was to simply ‘make it great.’ He is why Pixar turned out the way we did and his strength, integrity and love of life has made us all better people. “He will forever be a part of Pixar’s DNA,” their statement continued. “Our hearts go out to his wife Laurene and their children during this incredibly difficult time.” President Obama, Nicki Minaj, Bill Gates and more remember Steve Jobs. It’s not just in the heart and soul of Pixar where Jobs’ contribution to film resides; from now on, whether you’re catching up for Oscar season between work shifts on your iPad or watching the newest film releases from the comfort of your own home with nothing but a wireless connection and a functional iTunes account, the world will engage movies and media in ways that are only possible because of his work. Comedian and “Ratatouille” voice actor Patton Oswalt perfectly encapsulated the late inventor’s legacy on Twitter . In an appropriately geek-friendly manner of speaking, Jobs truly was the “closest thing we had to Tony Stark.” Steve Jobs changed the world, but how did he change you ? Tell us on Facebook. Related Photos The Steve Jobs Legacy
