Sneak peek of upcoming 3-D concert movie shows Katy’s ups and downs on the road to superstardom. By Kara Warner Katy Perry in the “Katy Perry: Part of Me 3D” trailer Photo: Paramount Katy Perry has proven to be an expert tease in offering up details about her highly anticipated big-screen debut in “Katy Perry: Part of Me.” But on Tuesday (April 3), we finally got a glimpse of what to expect via the first official trailer . The nearly two-minute teaser opens with a shot of Perry onstage, with her otherworldly “E.T.” playing in the background, followed by quick cuts to footage of her Candy Land-esque California Dreams Tour and a voice-over about her meteoric rise to fame. “Katy’s just an explosion. She just keeps getting bigger and bigger and bigger,” a man says in one testimonial, which plays behind flashes of her impressive statistics — the “first female to have five #1 singles on one album” — interspersed with scenes from her music videos for “California Gurls,” “Waking Up in Vegas” and “Teenage Dream.” “It’s always about the challenge,” another man says, with behind-the-scenes footage of Perry rehearsing and getting fitted for costumes playing. “What are people saying she can’t do? That’s what she does next. Every song has something to do with her life.” “She outworks everyone,” another friend says. “I honestly don’t know how she does it.” As headlines of Perry’s divorce flash onscreen, “E.T.” fades away and we hear the opening notes of “Firework,” which provides the background music for scenes and interviews about Perry’s religious childhood, her struggles in being signed to different labels and not being successful and ultimately how she powered through and kept believing in herself to become the superstar she is today. The end of the trailer is a mash-up of behind-the-scenes images from her very colorful concert tour and countless interactions with happy fans. “If you have a dream, you’re going to go on a journey to fulfill that dream,” Perry says as the trailer fades to black. Perry recently told MTV News that the movie is a fitting end to her adventure in promoting and touring for her Teenage Dream album. “It’s closing the chapter on Teenage Dream, but it’s giving you such an inside perspective,” Perry said when asked what fans will get out of the movie-going experience this summer. “This film, you’re going to see it from my best friend/buddy perspective, you’re going to see exactly what I mean and feel and think about everything.” The recent Kids’ Choice Award winner promised that while there will be eye-catching 3-D sequences, they won’t be cheap tricks. “Listen, I’ve [worked on] most of this film for a very long time and the word ‘cheap’ was not in the vocabulary,” she said. “But, hello, it’s 3-D. You’re going to get hit with a lot of sh–.” For young Hollywood news, fashion and “Twilight” updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com . Related Videos MTV First: Katy Perry’s ‘Part Of Me’ Related Photos The Evolution Of: Katy Perry Related Artists Katy Perry
So did all that MPAA ratings nonsense and media outcry pay off for Bully ? What do you think? Lee Hirsch ‘s film achieved the year’s best documentary opening to date with $115,000 on five screens in New York and Los Angeles — a $23,000-per-theater average that amounted to the best of the week by nearly $10,000 over The Hunger Games . But now that The Weinstein Company has to take its unrated baby out of the doc-friendly megamarkets and into the mainstream wilds, a new report suggests that Harvey Weinstein may be preparing to make the cuts required for a PG-13. Surprise! Per the LAT : The new cut of the teen-bullying film, which would minimize in some manner the profanities featured in a controversial schoolbus scene, would hit theaters April 13, when the movie widens to 25 markets, and allow children of any age to see it without adult accompaniment. The film, which centers on five families affected by teen bullying, plays in limited release in Los Angeles and New York this weekend. The Weinstein Co. denied that changes were being made now but allowed for the possibility in the coming weeks. “At this time, there are no plans to change the film for a PG-13,” Stephen Bruno, the company’s head of marketing, told 24 Frames on Friday. “We are in constant conversation with the MPAA and hope a compromise can be reached.” The MPAA has been steadfast that the existing cut wll not be given anything lower than an R. Hmm. Where have we seen this before? Oh, right . Also from the LAT : “I did that on The King’s Speech , and Colin and Tom killed me for it,” Weinstein said, referring to a new PG-13 cut for the 2011 Oscar winner, and to star Colin Firth and director Tom Hooper’s criticism of the move. That was another April gambit, for the record — after the R-rated Speech was already out of theaters with $134 million in its pocket. A little more than two months and $3 million later , kids didn’t want to see that either. Anyway, if you need any more evidence that all this “controversy” is just another hustle, then I can’t help you. [ LAT ] Follow S.T. VanAirsdale on Twitter . Follow Movieline on Twitter .
The trailer for Whitney Houston’s final film, “Sparkle,” debuted on NBC’s “Today” show Monday, giving her fans a glimpse of the big-screen performance that would be the superstar’s last. The remake of the 1976 Supremes-inspired flick is due to hit theaters in August, and marks Houston’s first return to movie acting in 16 years. In the film, Whitney plays the mother of Jordin Sparks’ character, a singer who never quite made it to the big time. Take a look: RELATED: Cocaine Found In Whitney Houston’s Hotel Room Tyler Perry Gives Bobbi Kristina A Job Bobby Brown’s Sister Accuses Ray J Of Giving Whitney Houston Cocaine [VIDEO] Whitney Houston’s Cause Of Death Revealed Ray J Finally Breaks His Silence
Mark Wahlberg tries to sever ties from his childhood teddy bear, the foul-mouthed Ted. By Fallon Prinzivalli Mark Wahlberg, Ted as voiced by Seth McFarlane and Mila Kunis in “Ted” Photo: Universal Pictures As a kid, did you ever wish on a shooting star that the stuffed animal your dad brought you back from his business trip would come to life? No? Well, Mark Wahlberg did in his new movie Ted,” and to his surprise, his wish was granted. “Ted” follows John Bennett (Wahlberg) as a 35-year-old still living with Ted, his faithful, vulgar stuffed friend from childhood. As he attempts to move on with his life, Ted continually shows up when he’s unwanted — at least by Bennett’s girlfriend, Lori ( Mila Kunis ). The comedy is written and directed by “Family Guy’s” Seth MacFarlane in his big-screen debut. And if Ted sounds familiar, it’s because MacFarlane is also voicing the bear. Until the film hits theaters on July 13, here are the five key scenes from the restricted “Ted” trailer. A Chance Meeting John Bennett knocks Lori over at a club with his unique dance moves. The opening notes of “Sweet Disposition” by the Temper Trap start to play as he touches ice to her head, cueing the sweet montage of things new couples do together in romantic comedies. They have a playful paint war while repainting a bedroom, float blissfully on a lake and it all ends with an “I love you” kiss in bed. Aww. For all the romantics excited at the prospect of another “The Notebook” to drag their significant others to, think again. Thunder Buddies for Life Enter Ted. Frightened by thunder during a storm, a living teddy bear comes running into Lori and Bennett’s room, hops into bed between them and starts singing (along with an equally scared Bennett) the thunder song. The tune is filled with a few choice words, hand motions and sounds that would make a sailor blush — not the usual children’s lullaby. He’s No Corduroy In true MacFarlane style, Ted isn’t your usual cuddly teddy bear. While our first introduction to Ted is during a colorful rendition of a children’s lullaby, our next meeting with the character shows a marijuana-smoking burnout suggesting what sex position Lori may be expecting from Bennett later that night. It seems even teddy bears lose their innocence as they get older. Ted Meets Girl Ted works at a supermarket and develops a crush on one of his co-workers. When Bennett asks her name, Ted says it’s of the “white trash” variety. It leads to a hilarious scene where Wahlberg shows off his Marky-Mark skills, listing off the possible names in a way that might make Busta Rhymes a little jealous. Exit Ted? The trailer ends with dejected looking Ted walking in a dark alley sipping from a beer bottle. Maybe John Bennett grew up, gave into his girlfriend’s request and cut ties with his unusual BFF? Lori can only hope. Check out everything we’ve got on Ted.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Photos ‘Ted’ Trailer: 5 Key Scenes
‘American Idol’ alum talks to Entertainment Weekly about working with the late legend on their upcoming movie ‘Sparkle.’ By Kara Warner Whitney Houston Photo: 20th Century Fox/Getty Images Many people will remember exactly where they were and what they were doing when they heard the news of Whitney Houston’s untimely death in February. And while everyone’s experience was memorable in some way, the story of Houston’s “Sparkle” co-star Jordin Sparks hearing the news is especially poignant. The season-six “American Idol” winner was in a L.A. hotel room getting ready to meet Houston at the Beverly Hilton and attend Clive Davis’ annual pre-Grammy bash when her publicist knocked on her door. “She said, ‘Whitney’s gone,’ ” Sparks told Entertainment Weekly. “I said, ‘What do you mean? She’s not going to the party?’ She said, ‘No, she passed.’ It was like a movie when you see somebody and they’re just shocked and can’t move. I literally couldn’t say anything. I couldn’t feel anything. It was a complete shock. I was just holed up in my hotel room for a few days after that. “I didn’t know her for very long, but it was an intense two months: 12 hours every day spending time with somebody,” Sparks recalled. “It was amazing to walk into work and then Whitney is sitting in her chair blasting gospel music and singing. I’m thinking to myself, ‘People would give their right arm to just hear some of this. And it’s happening every day.’ She was really, really great.” “Sparkle” is a remake of the 1976 Irene Cara film about three talented young musicians who struggle with addiction. The new version features the 2007 “American Idol” winner as the titular character Sparkle and Houston, who also served as executive producer after acquiring the rights to the film more than a decade ago, as her mother, Emma. “It was definitely her baby,” Sparks said of Houston’s attachment to the project. “You could see the pride on her face when we wrapped. She was so excited that this was finally happening. Even before she passed I wanted to be able to represent this movie in a way that would honor her and respect her, because she worked so hard on it. With her passing, it’s definitely been a lot more pressure. We’ll see how it goes. I’m sure there will be interviews where it will hit me and I might get emotional, and there’s going to be other interviews where I reminisce about how happy and excited she was. I’m really proud of the film. I can’t wait for people to see it.” “Sparkle” is scheduled to be released by Sony on August 17. Check out everything we’ve got on “Sparkle.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Photos Whitney Houston: A Life In Photos Related Artists Whitney Houston Jordin Sparks
While ‘Won’t Make a Fool Out of You’ will appear on ‘Think Like a Man’ soundtrack, Canty is also at work on debut LP. By Christina Garibaldi Marcus Canty Photo: MTV News He may have finished in fourth place on “The X Factor,” but Marcus Canty should definitely consider himself a winner. Earlier this year, the R&B singer signed a deal with mentor L.A. Reid at Epic Records, along with fellow contestants Chris Rene and Astro , and now he has just released his first single, “Won’t Make a Fool Out of You.” The smooth ballad, which shows off Canty’s vocal strength, will be featured on the soundtrack to the film “Think Like a Man,” but Canty promises he was thinking only of the ladies when making the song. “This is strictly for the ladies,” Canty told MTV News. “What the fellas can do with this, you can take it and play it for your ladies, you can wind down, you can dance to it.” Canty, who revealed that he will soon be shooting a video for the single, is still in the studio putting the finishing touches on his debut album, with help from his “X Factor” mentor, Reid. “L.A Reid has been such a great mentor. He’s loved the records that I’ve cut so far — he’s enjoying it,” Canty said. “He just wants me to continue to be myself. I just like to have fun. I want to make good music — I want to be somebody. He always tells me, ‘Don’t let anyone take away your joy.’ That’s what will carry me for a long time.” There was, however, a time when Canty wasn’t experiencing a whole lot of joy in his life, when he broke up with a longtime girlfriend. Yet he turned his pain into inspiration for his upcoming album. “Growing up, I had this girl. I was young, but I was so in love, from the third grade until probably right before the show, a year before the show, and I was heartbroken,” Canty revealed. “Definitely even the single, when I was in the studio recording it, I try to envision a specific person when I’m singing a song, so then when I’m singing it, you’ll feel what I’m saying.” Canty, who wowed crowds on the “X Factor” stage singing everything from Michael Jackson to Janis Joplin, is now ready to show everyone who he really is. “It’s going to be some heat. My album can touch a lot of different basics. I want to make good music [that] people can relate to, and I think my album is a cluster of a lot of different things,” Canty said. “I’m a regular guy, but when it comes to the stage and when it comes to recording, when it comes to my music, I’m super-passionate about it. I take my music so serious.” Are you excited for Marcus Canty’s debut album? Let us know in the comments!
How do you come to the rescue of the millions of children who need someone — anyone — to do what they can’t: get their bullies off their backs? Director Lee Hirsch has sounded a call to action with his new documentary Bully , which exposes bullying from the front lines. Opening today, the film follows several kids and families struggling to stop the taunting and violence. Hirsch captures the frustration and helplessness among not only the victims but also their parents, who have lost trust in our modern school system. There’s Alex, 12, who seems convinced his bullies are his friends; Ja’Meya, 14, locked up after brandishing a gun on the bus where she faced her tormenters; and Kelby, 16, whose whole family retreated into isolation after she came out as a lesbian. Also profiled are the families of a teenager, Tyler, and an 11-year-old, Ty, whose bullying-related suicides devastated their communities and served as a wake-up call. If the film is taken to heart, it should be among the catalysts for changing the “kids will be kids” mentality among some educators and other authority figures. On a micro level, parents who participated in the film are speaking out in their communities and persuading kids to protect one another. Hirsch is working on getting his movie into schools, where it can have more influence. After a whiplash-inducing saga over its MPAA rating, initially an R for strong language, Bully will be released unrated in New York and Los Angeles before expanding to other cities on April 13. Hirsch spoke to Movieline about the movement that has grown out of his project, the newly famous Bully kids, and whether minors will go to the theater to see the film. When were you made aware of the rampant bullying going on in schools these days, and what led to your decision to make a documentary about it? The drive to make the documentary film is that I was bullied as a kid, so it’s very much a piece of my narrative. You know it’s bad, and I had talked about it over the years with people and sort of sensed that it’s a problem greater than my own. I didn’t really understand until we saw the extent to which people were affected by this, to the millionth. It’s funny you ask that because I feel like I dish out these statistics as if I’ve know them forever, but actually there was a process of discovering how big this really was. Then you start doing the math and thinking, if 13 million kids get bullied a year, and you start adding that up from generation to generation, there’s a lot of folks that have this narrative, that have a story, when it comes to bullying. So all those things came together when we started getting into it. Now it’s been three years that I’ve been working on this. It’s interesting you asked me that, I hadn’t thought about that. Did you have any problem getting kids or parents to participate in the film? No, not at all. We shot so many more stories than we were able to include in the final version of the film. We had people reaching out to us. We reached out to a lot of families. It was so different, because we filmed kids like Kelby, where they were outwardly looking for somebody to hear their story and share their outrage, and then Alex, who we very much stumbled upon while being allowed to film inside this school and see how adults and folks were handling certain situations. I wasn’t surprised by the willingness of people, because I remember that feeling of wishing someone would listen to me. I thought it was really brave of Ty’s friend to admit that he’d been a bully at one time. I wondered if you considered putting more kids in the film who shared that side of the story. I had. I think ultimately the narrative of this film is it tells the story of families that are on the victim side, and so you just settle into a world where you’re seeing what they see, as they see it and they deal with it. Ultimately it became less about, “what are the arguments on this side and that side, and what’s this position and that position,” or a full, drawn-out exploration of the psychology of bullying, but rather it became about telling five stories. We didn’t even know how many stories we were going to tell as we shot it. We were just looking to tell stories that allowed you to walk in the shoes of the kids and families who were dealing with this. Now that the Weinstein Company is releasing the film unrated, how do you imagine kids seeing the movie? Do you think they’ll be going to the theater or seeing it in school? We still have school districts reaching out to us every day. We’re in discussions for how to facilitate that. We have a goal of a million kids seeing the film. On their own and with groups. Within their schools and with organizations. Engaging on our website, bullyproject.com , and participating in the movement. We want to have real engagement. That’s the goal now. I think we want to be able to support viewers after they see the film with how they can be involved, how to make a difference. How to do anything from stand up and how to make that meaningful and supportive, to how parents navigate the school system when they’re advocating on behalf of their kids. I think that’s a long-winded answer to say that yes, I really do think that kids are going to come see this film. I think we owe a lot of that to Katy Butler for inspiring hundreds of thousands of teens to sign this petition , and it’s also thanks to so many of the celebrities who have spoken out for the film. It’s exciting. You’re talking to me the day before it opens. I can’t wait to see what happens. Have you seen any positive changes in schools since you started the project? In Alex’s school? In any school, or in any aspect of it, actually. Have you seen anything positive happen as a result of just making the film and building the website? I feel like, how do you measure half a million signatures and people sharing their stories? I think that’s impact. How do you measure the thousands of people that have written on our wall? People are supporting each other and writing to each other and building a community that feels like it’s turning into a movement. I feel that the film has already had impact in ways that I couldn’t have dreamed. I think that already the conversations are rich and deep that people are having about bullying at their schools, about what the climate and culture are like in their community. I think that those conversations are happening, and that’s change, that’s transformation. It’s very exciting. Do you have any plans to do follow-ups with the kids from your film? I don’t have time to do a follow-up film of any kind, but I am in touch with all of the families on a regular basis. Certainly Alex and his family, in particular, and we see them all the time, with Kelby and her family. They come to screenings. They’re doing press. Alex went and argued before the MPAA with Harvey Weinstein. These families are like my second family now. They mean the world to me, and it’s been awesome to get to spend a year with them. Other people are putting cameras in front of them, but it’s not me. I wonder if years down the road we’ll hear from them. I think there would always be an interest in hearing how they’re doing. The families are going to have to make a decision about whether they want this press to continue. For them, boy, this was unexpected, right? I had a sense that maybe we would do some press. It’s been extraordinary for me. I couldn’t have seen this, but for them, it’s been a confusing and extraordinary ride. We just give them as much support as we humanly can. I’ll always be in their lives, and I feel that in my film work I always develop strong bonds with the people that end up in my films, my subjects. It always matters that they see the film and that they’re part of the process and that that relationship stays strong. That comes through in the film. I’m so proud of them — in particular, because I see them so often, Kelby and Alex — because they’ve become advocates. People are writing me and saying, “Can you please send this to Alex? He’s my hero.” It’s incredible. It’s harder for the families that have lost kids. That’s … I … I think about them a lot because they have suffered such an ultimate loss. And they’ve embarked on a new path of advocating for kids and inspiring kids. They’ve been incredible advocates. I’ve seen that a lot with families of kids who have committed suicide that’s been linked to bullying. Can you imagine that sense of injustice that they feel? No. No, you can’t. I can’t either. They’re so engaged, and they’re such powerful advocates. I see many of these families doing such powerful work out in the world. Bully opens today in New York and Los Angeles, with additional cities to come on April 13. Read Stephanie Zacharek’s review here . [Photo: Getty Images]
Lily Collins tells MTV News her Snow is a ‘young woman who found out that she can save a prince as much as a prince can save her.’ By Kara Warner Lily Collins Photo: MTV News If you’re looking for a fun, fantastical, family-friendly movie to see this weekend, Tarsem’s “Mirror Mirror” has you covered. The visually appealing and star-studded film is a new spin on an old classic, featuring an exuberant “man child” of a prince played by Armie Hammer , Oscar winner Julia Roberts as an unhealthily vain Evil Queen and Lily Collins as a more independent and self-assured Snow White. When MTV News caught up with Roberts and Collins recently, we asked them to explain how their characters differ from the familiar fairy-tale mold. “I think she’s deeply misunderstood,” Roberts said of her Evil Queen. “And I think she is correct in her ambition and drive and desire and focus to annihilate Snow White. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. She’s clear,” she joked. “She’s exacting.” Collins explained that her Snow White is not your typical damsel in distress. “She really becomes a fighter, emotionally and physically, and turns into this young woman who found out that she can save a prince as much as a prince can save her,” she said. “She really becomes this fighter, and I got to swordfight and fence and wrestle and do all these cool things that you don’t normally associate with a princess.” Speaking of fighters and swordfights, we couldn’t help but ask for the castmembers’ opinions on the fact that another Snow White-centric film, “Snow White and the Huntsman,” will be hot on the heels of “Mirror Mirror” when it opens June 1 and how it might fare against their film. “I’m interested to see what they did,” Hammer admitted. “I think what we did is make a movie that’s family-friendly. The parents are going to go to it and enjoy it almost as much as the kids are. Plus our movie kicks that movie’s ass, let’s be honest,” he added with a grin. ” Yeah. And we’re out first. And we’re gonna kick their ass!” he joked, clearly not concerned with competing against “Huntsman.” “We’re gonna make so much more money than they are! Our Rotten Tomatoes score is gonna be so much higher.” Check out everything we’ve got on “Mirror Mirror.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Videos MTV Rough Cut: ‘Mirror Mirror’
MTV News brings you a timeline of all the obstacles that once stood in the way of the now-greenlit sequel. By Fallon Prinzivalli Will Ferrell in “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” Photo: DreamWorks Pictures Movie fans were overjoyed by Will Ferrell ‘s announcement Wednesday night that “Anchorman 2″ is finally happening . The long journey since the release of the first film left us doubting whether a sequel would ever happen. With our doubts cast aside and our excitement on the rise, we’ve compiled a timeline of all the obstacles the team overcame to arrive at the ultimate destination. August 14, 2008 : Paul Rudd tells us he thinks ” Anchorman ” director Adam McKay and actor Will Ferrell were interested in doing a sequel. “Last I heard they were starting to write [‘Anchorman 2’],” Rudd says. The setting? Possibly the ’80s or the moon . May 27, 2009 : Ferrell tells Aussie radio DJs Jono & Dana that he’ll be meeting with the “Anchorman” creators to “figure out when and how” to get a sequel in the works. August 28, 2009 : In an interview with Empire magazine, “Anchorman” producer Judd Apatow suggests that in “Anchorman 2,” Ron Burgundy, Brick Tamland and Brian Fantana will return as elderly men. “Those anchormen sometimes have their jobs until they’re 75 years old,” Apatow says. September 1, 2009 : Director McKay says that, due to the cast and crew’s busy schedules, the sequel won’t be available for another two years . He adds, “But we are definitely doing it.” Whew. April 6, 2010 : Steve Carell confirms to our very own Josh Horowitz that the “Anchorman” cast “want[s] to do another one,” but there is no script. “I don’t think they’ve [even] decided on a story line yet,” Carell says. April 8, 2010 : On the red carpet for his movie “Date Night,” Carell lies about everything. He says “Anchorman 2” has already been shot in “just two days” while the cast was drunk. When asked if it was any good he says, “It’s fantastic!” Honestly, with the talent in these comedians, we wouldn’t be surprised if it was. April 27, 2010 : Adam McKay reveals that, aside from the actor’s schedules, another holdup in the sequel is payment . Since the cast went on to become even more famous after the first movie, “Everybody’s prices went up.” Graciously, the cast agreed to take a pay cut, which is almost unheard of in Hollywood. April 29, 2010 : McKay dashes all our hopes and dreams in a single tweet : “So bummed. Paramount basically passed on Anchorman 2. Even after we cut our budget down. We tried.” May 3, 2010 : Hope is restored! As it turns out, Paramount is eager to film the sequel. Deadline reports, however, the “Anchorman” team is forced to regroup as they have a budget gap of $30 million to overcome. June 6, 2010 : With financial issues in the way, Paul Rudd jokes that if “Anchorman 2” doesn’t happen, “We’ll look to do ‘Anchorman 3.’ ” July 19, 2010 : Yet again, it seems as if “Anchorman 2” is never going to happen. The saddest part? Neither is the proposed “Anchorman” musical . A few days later, Christina Applegate says she feels let down by the news. May 2, 2011 : All hope is officially lost when Ferrell tells Collider that the sequel “is a brick wall right now” and they’re “playing around with the idea” of a “Step Brothers” sequel instead. And suddenly… March 28, 2012 : Ferrell announces on “Conan” that “Anchorman 2” is officially happening with the original director, Adam McKay, and most of the principal castmembers, including Steve Carell and Paul Rudd. The stars have aligned. It’s finally happening. Cue celebration! Check out everything we’ve got on “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com .
‘Jack still dies,’ director says of the 3-D re-release which he says ‘reinvents’ the 1997 flick. By Kevin P. Sullivan James Cameron Photo: MTV News When “Titanic” hits the big screen again on April 4, the ship will be changing course and heading directly into the audience. Director James Cameron has been one of 3-D’s biggest proponents for years now and has suggested in the past that any film is open for a three-dimensional makeover. It only makes sense, then, that he put his money where his mouth is and converted his own “Titanic.” Cameron spoke with MTV UK about the process and why the real reward of the re-release is the chance to see his blockbuster on the silver screen again after 15 years. The director insisted that the movie remains as it was back in 1997, except for the added dimension. “It ends the same way. The ship still sinks. Jack still dies. Oops, I hope I didn’t spoil it,” he said. As Cameron has said before, he believes that the 3-D element of the re-release plays a supporting role. He simply wants people to see “Titanic” as it was meant to be seen: in a theater. “I think the first thing you should think of, the most important thing, is that you’re going to see it in a movie theater, which is really fundamentally different for anyone who is under a certain age. It hasn’t been in a theater for 15 years, so people know it from video. But they haven’t taken that ride where you commit to the three hours, and you’re going to go on that emotional rollercoaster, and you’re going to come out of the end of the movie in a certain mental, emotional state. It’s very different.” That isn’t the say that the 3-D doesn’t add anything. Cameron sees the conversion as a way to reinterpret the experience. “The 3-D is a kind of way of doing that, a way of reinventing the film, and the 3-D does add something to the experience that was never there before, an immediacy, even an intimacy, which is interesting.” Luckily for Cameron, he had originally shot “Titanic” in a way that was conducive to a 3-D conversion. “Even though I wasn’t shooting it as a 3-D movie 15 years ago, my particular style is to use wider lenses and to wrap the actors in the scenery,” Cameron said. “Because the ship — I don’t like to use the term that it was a character — but the environment was constantly informing what was happening, the elegance, the beauty of the ship, the gilt-edged luxury juxtaposed with steerage third class. All those themes are really manifested in the physicality of the ship. The style of seeing all of that when you convert it to 3-D, it just has this lucidity. You just feel like you’re there.” Are you planning on seeing the 3-D re-release of “Titanic”? Leave your comment below! Check out everything we’ve got on “Titanic.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com .
