Buckling under the bruising blows of theater chains and independents who’d vowed to boycott the film, Universal has agreed to cancel its experimental VOD release of Tower Heist three weeks after the film opens on Nov. 4.
‘We knew that the budget was going to be huge initially,’ he tells MTV News of back-and-forth budget talks. By Kara Warner Johnny Depp Photo: WireImage Much like the unforgivable and unpredictable nature of the American Old West, the plight of Johnny Depp and Gore Verbinski’s big-screen adaptation of “The Lone Ranger” has been quite a bumpy ride. The film got the green light earlier this year, with Depp settled into the role of Tonto and Armie Hammer selected to play the Ranger . Then in August, Disney put a halt on the production with claims that the budget was too big. Just this week, negotiations ended on a happy note, with the production back in full swing and a tentative start date scheduled for early next year. MTV News caught up with Depp as he promoted “The Rum Diary” to find out why “Ranger” is so important to him and why the budget became such a big issue for the studio bigwigs. “I like the character. I think I have interesting plans for the character, and I think the film itself could be entertaining and very funny,” he said. “But also I like the idea of having the opportunity to make fun of the idea of the Indian as a sidekick — which has always been [the case] throughout the history of Hollywood, the Native American has always been a second-class, third-class, fourth-class citizen, and I don’t see Tonto that way at all. So it’s an opportunity for me to salute Native Americans.” With regard to the back-and-forth budget talks with the studio, Depp admitted that he and director Verbinski knew they’d be in for some negotiating from the get-go, but they also planned to be patient. “We knew that the budget was going to be huge initially, and we also knew that it was going to be shut down for a while, and it was kind of like we patiently wait — we shave a little bit here, we do a little bit there, [and] they fix it.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com .
Nudity Hall-of-Famer Elena Anaya is very comfortable in the skin she lives in, an assertion supported by her 14 onscreen nude roles. Now she’s is about to rack up her 15th skinema credit as Vera , the beautiful captive of demented plastic surgeon Antonio Banderas in The Skin I Live In , Pedro Almodovar ‘s lush take on the Frankenstein myth. Elena sat down to discuss the film with the horror site Bloody-Disgusting.com , which asked the Spanish sexpot about filming a disturbing rape scene that occurs towards the end of the film: “It depends who you do it with. I’m very concerned about nudity, about sex scenes that sometimes are cheap, like they don’t need to be in the film. Then I’m so restrictive. If the scenes are there for a reason, like this one was, I’m brave, ” she said. Ultimately, though, Elena says she brushes off such dark material: “It’s fiction. Sometimes those scenes, the scenes that look difficult, they are not. You’re playing. You’re acting. You’re going to some place, of course with your own emotions and everything, but it’s not yourself.” The Skin I Live In opens this Friday, October 14 , but Mr. Skin members can see much, much more of Elena Anaya right here at MrSkin.com!
Hungarian police swarmed warehouse to seize stash of guns being used on set. By Gil Kaufman Brad Pitt on the set of “World War Z” on August 18, 2011, in Glasgow, Scotland Photo: Jeff J Mitchell/ Getty Images Onlookers may have thought that the intense police action was part of the plot, but when Hungarian police and a SWAT team descended on the set of Brad Pitt ‘s film “World War Z” on Monday, it was not a scripted event. According to US Weekly , the SWAT team raided a Budapest warehouse where weapons were being stored for use in the epic zombie flick , with anti-terrorism officers seizing 85 guns. The firearms, which were supposed to be nonfunctional, were automatic, military-style assault rifles that were in good working order. The guns were confiscated at an airport near the film’s set, where they were being stored. “This morning a private plane brought guns wrapped in a parcel from a company to an individual [in Budapest],” said the director of Hungary’s anti-terrorism unit in a statement. “Guns like these are highly illegal to transport even if they were to [be] used as stage guns, which hopefully they weren’t.” A source told the magazine that Pitt — whose Plan B Entertainment is producing the movie set for a December 2012 release — isn’t to blame for the prop snafu. “The movie company’s employees must have made a mistake bringing the guns in without the Anti-Terrorism Unit’s permission,” said the unnamed source. The movie, which is being helmed by Oscar-nominated director Marc Forster ( “Machine Gun Preacher,” “Stranger Than Fiction”) and is based on a beloved novel by Max Brooks, stars Pitt as a United Nations employee who is traveling the world in an effort to stop a zombie plague from wiping out humanity. Forster has promised that he is taking a different approach to how the zombies move in the film from how they lurch in the book. “In Max Brook’s book they move in the George Romero [“Night of the Living Dead”] fashion. I feel like we have a little bit different approach,” he revealed. “But it doesn’t exclude that they might not eventually be fashioned [on] how George Romero’s zombies move, it’s just a little bit different approach. I think that will probably be the biggest discussions that there will be.” Check out everything we’ve got on “World War Z.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com .
But he’s also ‘not changing a frame’ during 3-D conversion process, which he previewed for reporters Tuesday. By Kevin P. Sullivan James Cameron Photo: Getty Images In 2009, James Cameron announced to a crowd at San Diego Comic-Con that “Titanic,” the iconic epic and king of the box office, would soon resurface in a theater near you, but this time in 3-D . Two years later, the conversion process is nearly complete and we’re six months away from the April 6 release date. But on Tuesday (October 11), James Cameron showed off about 20 minutes of newly 3-D-ified scenes to a handful of journalists in New York to give them an idea of what the finished product will look like next year and to explain the process and his reasoning behind the re-release for the 100th anniversary of the boat’s sinking. For Cameron, the re-release is about giving the audience a chance to relive an event that was more than just going to the movie theater. “I’ve always thought of watching this film in theaters as a social phenomenon, where parents will take their children or teenagers would go with their mom,” Cameron said. “It would maybe be a woman going with a man she wanted to check out to make sure that his emotional plumbing was working before she made a big commitment.” But the name “Titanic” doesn’t carry the same weight across the age spectrum as it did in 1997, and Cameron said he understands the need to appeal to a new audience. “There are younger kids we’re going to have to sell to who don’t know the movie. There’s going to be a teenage audience who knows the movie only from video. The question is, do they know that just from peer-to-peer socially or is it passed on from watching it with their parents?” Cameron said. Fans of the movie don’t need to worry about any changes to the film they knew 14 years ago. Cameron explains that the only changes to the movie were the conversion to 3D. “We’re not changing a frame. The ship still sinks. It ends the same way,” Cameron said. Even some of the more dated special effects — “cringers,” as Cameron referred to them — are there exactly as they were in 1997. The director said George Lucas and the ever-changing “Star Wars” trilogy helped him cope with that. “I see that as the example of what I don’t want to do. I don’t mean that as a slam,” Cameron said. “[Lucas] considers his movies a perpetual work in progress. For me, the problem is, once you pull that thread, it all unravels. Where do you stop?’ By the time the new version of the film is released this spring, the 3-D conversion will have taken over a year with work from 300 artists and a cost of $18 million, but Cameron said he is proud of the conversion. “I think the film holds up pretty darn well. In 3-D, it becomes kind of a new experience,” Cameron said. “It’s a much more intimate and involving experience both with the characters and with the physical space.” From the look of the eight scenes shown Tuesday, it looks like “Titanic” could be one of the most successful post-conversions to date, and it might bode well for more potential 3-D conversions for Cameron’s other films. “The question is whether the film would benefit from a re-release and would there be a big enough audience for it. ‘Terminator 2,’ maybe. I think that would be a good place to start,” Cameron suggested. As we’ve seen with “Avatar,” Cameron knows how to do 3-D well, and the clips shown Tuesday were no exception, especially the early scene of people boarding the ship. The effect does give a good sense of depth without gimmicky distraction. It was clear that care had gone into preserving the feel of “Titanic,” while literally adding a new dimension. Only minutes after the clips began, the experience became more about seeing the film on the big screen again and less about the glasses on your face. That’s the effect James Cameron hopes to achieve with audiences next spring. “I think the story can’t be ‘It’s “Titanic” in 3-D,’ ” Cameron said. “I think the story should be ‘It’s “Titanic” coming back to the big screen and it’s in 3-D.’ ” Check out everything we’ve got on “Titanic.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com .
We break down our first good look at the superhero supergroup. By Eric Ditzian and Josh Wigler Chris Hemsworth in the “Avengers” trailer Photo: Marvel The first full trailer for “The Avengers” is here, though at first glance, it seemed much more like the work of Michael Bay — a little citizens-ominously-watching-the-skyline “Armageddon” here, a bit of city-block-destroying “Transformers” there — than the handiwork of Marvel and writer/director Joss Whedon. But that voice-over you hear in the beginning (the one assuring us humans were made to be ruled) is none other than Loki, who makes his first appearance about 20 seconds into the new footage, kick-starting a furious visual procession of superheroes, superheroes and more superheroes. While the trailer didn’t deliver everything we were hoping for — nor did it have the ineffable coolness we might have expected — it gave us a whole lot of Marvel goodness to unpack, which we did with another MTV News expert trailer analysis: Loki, Located We’ve known for a long time that Loki is the central villain in “Avengers,” though whether other villains pop up to wreak havoc (like those persistent rumors about the alien Skrulls ) remains to be seen. What we didn’t know was how Loki would travel to Earth, considering the Rainbow Bridge — that mythic intergalactic transporter — was destroyed at the end of this summer’s “Thor.” Yet in that film, before tumbling into some kind of cosmic abyss, Loki announces there are other ways to get to Earth besides the Rainbow Bridge. In this early shot of Loki crouching in a warehouse, we see what just might be the bad guy’s new mode of space transportation. What exactly this “Stargate”-esque contraption is remains to be seen. Turbulence When Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Thor and the rest of the Avengers assemble, they have to do so in style. In Marvel lore, when they take to the sky, they do so in a super-slick aircraft called the Quinjet, which flies overhead around the 55-second mark of the trailer. So that’s cool. Except the sucker’s on fire and looking like it’s about to crash-land in Manhattan, perhaps as part of the epic urban battle the trailer teases again and again. We can’t say for certain it’s Quinjet — it could be a Skrullian craft — but we doubt it, based on visual comparisons to the comics and the fact that the jet just doesn’t look alien. But do the Skrulls have a hand in the Quinjet’s fiery situation? Or is that all thanks to Loki? Hmmm … This Is Assembling? Who are we kidding? We wanted to see the Avengers assemble — not around the boardroom, table but in action. And the trailer, in this respect, just doesn’t deliver. Alas, the shot (around one minute, 11 seconds in) of our heroes in a lab is the best look at the team together. Hawkeye isn’t even there. Black Widow is mostly hidden. Captain America and Iron Man aren’t even in their suits. Bruce Banner is just Bruce Banner, no hint of the hidden green beast within. We appreciate that Whedon is a writer who loves to pen a witty exchange between characters — we get a lot of that in the trailer, and we’re not complaining — but we also maintain Marvel missed a chance in the trailer to show off the Avengers assembling for the first time in an unforgettable way. Thor vs. the Captain? At about the one-minute, 25-second mark, we have what looks like Thor battling Captain America. Now, the simple explanation is that these Avengers don’t always get along and, hey, even superheroes might come to blows with one another from time to time. No harm, no foul. But here’s a little conspiracy theory for ya: The Skrulls are notorious shape-shifters, and we just might be seeing one of them taking on the guise of an Avenger. So what we might — and we can’t emphasize might enough — be seeing is actually a Skrull-vs.-Avenger throw-down. That kind of can-you-trust-your-buddy paranoia could be a lot of fun to play with in the film. Say Hello to Your Hulk We’ve seen Mark Ruffalo in character as Bruce Banner before. What we haven’t seen — and what honestly makes the whole trailer worthwhile — is this first look at Banner transformed into the Hulk. Ruffalo has spoken often about how his Hulk will be a motion-capture creation modeled on the actor himself. So can we see the Oscar-nominated Ruffalo lurking somewhere inside the green beast? Hard to say in so brief a glimpse. We’ll have to wait to see more “Avengers” footage, which we can’t wait for and which is the clearest indication that for all our quibbles, the trailer is a superheroic success. Check out everything we’ve got on “The Avengers.” For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com . Related Videos First ‘Avengers’ Trailer: Dissected
The Avengers is the latest film in the Marvel Comics universe. Directed by Joss Whedon, the film is scheduled for release on May 12, 2012. Marvel Studios presents in association with Paramount Pictures “Marvel’s The Avengers”–the Super Hero team up of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel Super Heroes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : Laughing Squid Discovery Date : 11/10/2011 15:00 Number of articles : 5
Regardless of how pregnant Beyonce is, she’ll always have to deal with something, real baby bump, fake baby bump , stealing dance moves, etc. With the latest accusations stemming from her new video “Countdown”, Beyonce breaks it all the way down in regards to sampling: “Clearly, the ballet ‘Rosas danst Rosas’ was one of many references for my video ‘Countdown.’ It was one of the inspirations used to bring the feel and look of the song to life.” “I was also paying tribute to the film, ‘Funny Face’ with the legendary Audrey Hepburn. My biggest inspirations were the ’60s, the ’70s, Brigitte Bardot, Andy Warhol, Twiggy and Diana Ross. I’ve always been fascinated by the way contemporary art uses different elements and references to produce something unique.” It’s obvious Beyonce is inspired by a lot of things, so maybe her next video should be like a VH1 Pop Up giving a little histroy and credit where it’s due. Unfortunately, this probably wouldn’t still wouldn’t solve her problem! Oh welL, HATE IT OR LOVE IT… Beyonce is going to do what she wants – simple as that! Click Here for the Original Video
‘I applaud people that can think that quick on their feet,’ he tells ‘RapFix Live,’ while offering an update on his acting career. By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway Photo: MTV News Throughout his career, Method Man has been able to earn his respect in hip-hop and Hollywood simultaneously. As a prominent member of the Wu-Tang Clan, Meth has released four solo albums, two with Redman and a number of Clan-related projects. As an actor, he’s starred in major films like “Belly” and “Cop Land,” as well as the critically acclaimed HBO series “The Wire.” Look for Meth to take his acting to another level in the next few months. First, in December he will star alongside Jonah Hill in “The Sitter.” While on set with the “Superbad” actor, Tical learned a lesson in improv. “I didn’t know that they did these long-ass rants, to the point where, like, you’re waiting to get your line in, and just when you’re about to say your line — cut! — ran out of film,” he said when he appeared on “RapFix Live” last week. “I applaud people that can think that quick on their feet. Now I watch a Will Ferrell movie, I can see it now. I can see what he’s doin’.” At the top of 2012, Meth will transition into more of a dramatic role as a Tuskegee pilot in the World War II drama “Red Tails.” In preparing for the role, the rapper learned a lot about the historical significance of the African-American military aviators who had to conquer a racially segregated armed forces. “I met some of the actual pilots, and they would sit there telling us the stories,” he said. Meth — who co-stars with Cuba Gooding Jr., Terrence Howard and Tristan Wilds in the George Lucas-produced, Anthony Hemingway-directed film — also spoke on the physical training he had to endure in preparation for the film. According to the rapper, it was a lot like boot camp, but also a valuable bonding experience. “By the time I was done with the movie, I can actually call the majority of those dudes on the set friends,” he said. For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Videos ‘RapFix Live’ With Method Man And Irv Gotti Related Artists Method Man Redman
Breaking Sports Video
