Opening early overseas helped this week’s Battleship quietly amass $215 million before its domestic debut, and a few international markets (including Japan, Hong Kong, and New Zealand) may similarly see emphatic pre-U.S. openings for Sony’s July 3 tent pole The Amazing Spider-Man when it opens in countries like India days before hitting theaters stateside. Shall we call it, as one Sony Pictures India rep suggests, the “neener-neener” bump? “Each of the Spider-Man franchise films has broken records on its release in this territory. We are very confident that Indian audiences will enjoy the new reboot of the franchise even more because they are watching it before the U.S.” [ THR ]
A trailer for Tom Hooper’s upcoming Les Miserables film leaked onto the interwebs today, revealing looks at Hugh Jackman in action in the musical adaptation. But nevermind the handsome, jaunty period stylings of 19th century France in turmoil as envisioned by Hooper; get an earful of Anne Hathaway’s warbly voice singing a tearful rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream”… and sound off on her Fantine. Are you excited or worried, theater nerds? To be completely fair, this is the worst-quality video you could imagine for a trailer, which appears to have been filmed off of a computer. Even so, the footage looks great to me — sweeping shots, dynamic camera moves, Jackman’s Jean Valjean disappearing into the shadows. What’s most concerning is also the most important element of the film: The singing. According to reports from CinemaCon (where similar footage from the film was screened, including portions of Hathaway’s “I Dreamed a Dream” number), Hooper’s plan was to film most of the musical numbers with his cast singing live, which might explain why Hathaway’s voice sounds a bit unpolished. Or maybe that was intentional. Or maybe it’s just me. [Video removed at studio’s request.] Perez Hilton first posted the video today, along with fawning words for Hathaway’s performance: “If we had any doubts about this, they are GONE now!!!” Over at The Atlantic Wire , Richard Lawson called it “unsettling,” a reaction more in line with my own. My theater nerd pal (and Popular Mechanics editor) Erin McCarthy immediately sent over this video of stage goddess Lea Salonga singing the same number with a much stronger, yet still deeply emotional voice, but perhaps the comparison — or any comparisons, as the entire film’s cast is bound to suffer scrutiny — is unfair. Hathaway is a strong singer in her own right (see: The Oscars) but she’s probably deep in character as the desperate Fantine and her vocal interpretation may reflect that. Was it wise to film the largely sung-through story with live singing? That’s the biggest question so far as we await better looks at Hooper’s Les Mis , due in theaters December 14. [ Perez Hilton , Atlantic Wire ]
Pets. They continue to amaze, amuse and surprise us every day. You never know when they’re going to start drinking from the tap … or channel their inner virtuoso on a piano symphony! This video of a dog (Runty) playing and singing is trending across the Interwebs today, and for good reason. He’s not bad! Your move, cats. The gauntlet has been thrown down. Dog Playing Piano
Co-director Ariel Schulman warned audience that nobody would be able to sleep after seeing film. By Kevin P. Sullivan Lauren Bittner in Paranormal Activity 3 Photo: Paramount Pictures It’s not often that you see people standing for hours in a line that wraps around the block just for the chance to get scared out of their minds, but that’s exactly what happened Tuesday night in New York at an advance fan screening of “Paranormal Activity 3.” Fans tweeted for a chance to check out the third entry in the found-footage horror series and to learn how the haunting started. Some of the hopeful audience members showed up as early as the morning before the 10 p.m. screening. Once inside the theater, the lucky crowd competed for prizes like iPods, only heightening the excitement in the room. When it was finally time to screen the movie, directors Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost showed up, appropriately decked out for Halloween with fake knives and syringes lodged in each of their heads. Schulman warned people that they weren’t ready for the scares in “Paranormal Activity 3,” promising that nobody in the theater was going to sleep that night. Among chants of “P-A-3,” the lights dimmed and the screams started, and they didn’t stop for 84 minutes. As soon as the screening ended, the fan reaction was clear. “I thought ‘Paranormal Activity’ was tuck-your-feet-under-the-blanket horrifying,” said Jeffrey Caban, who claimed his heart was still racing. Nelson Rosa said he understood “the saying ‘my heart skipped a beat’ [for the] first time ever.” “It was intense. It had me screaming, jumping up and down, covering my eyes, everything,” Maria Huighes said. Are you excited for “Paranormal Activity 3”? Let us know in the comments below and on Twitter ! Check out everything we’ve got on “Paranormal Activity 3.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Videos ‘Paranormal Activity 3’ Is ‘Beyond Scary’
‘A Game of Shadows’ appears to pick up where the action-packed, bromantic original began. By Kara Warner Robert Downey Jr. in “Sherlock Holmes 2” Photo: Warner Bros As far as sensational, buzzworthy trailers go, Robert Downey Jr. is on a roll. He’s been a prominent fixture in two of the most talked-about teasers from two of the most anticipated films. The first trailer is for “The Avengers,” which Marvel and Disney rolled out last week, and the second is for Guy Ritchie’s bromantic “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows,” which hit the Interwebs on Wednesday (October 19). This second trailer is all about upping the action and mystery. It opens with the voice of new leading lady Sim, played by Noomi Rapace. “What do you see?” she asks Dr. Holmes (Downey Jr.), to which he replies “Everything,” as we are then shown quick cuts of what are likely pieces of the second film’s big mystery. There are dancing couples in a glamorous ballroom (including Sim and Holmes) at some grand party, a game of chess, a possible crime scene with a pile of wreckage in the center, bullet holes in the walls, cocked pistols and — gasp! A shot of Rachel McAdams’ shifty lady thief Irene Adler walking somewhere with haste and some sort of precious parcel. The last shot in the opening montage is a glimpse at Jared Harris as evil-ish Moriarty looking out from behind super-secret spy glasses (not really, he’s just holding a lorgnette — those fancy glasses people use at the opera). “That is my curse,” Holmes says, a bookend to our introductory 20 seconds or so, before Ritchie kicks the action into high gear and packs the remaining two minutes and seven seconds with explosions, running, shooting, etc. — basically, Holmes and Watson (Jude Law) are up to their old tricks. “Oh, how I’ve missed you, Holmes,” Watson says to his friend. “Have you? I’ve barely noticed your absence,” Holmes answers back in a passive-aggressive tone, pretending not to have missed his best friend. This brief exchange is followed by more quick cuts of exotic locations and Watson’s wedding and an introduction to bad guy Moriarty. “What are we up against here?” Watson asks Holmes. “The most formidable criminal mind in Europe,” Holmes says. “Professor James Moriarty,” Watson says, reading his name from Holmes’ notes somewhere. “If we can stop him, we can prevent the collapse of Western civilization,” Holmes adds dramatically, before an explosion erupts in the background. “No pressure.” This is followed by more running, bullets flying, a slow-motion cat-and-mouse chase in the snow, banter with lady Sim, as well as a few Holmes and Watson moments, including one in which the former suddenly appears dressed in drag. “What?” Watson says when he encounters Holmes as a lady. “I agree it’s not my best disguise,” Holmes counters. Finally there are more quick cuts of action, much of which looks to be set on a moving train that later explodes, along with a brief but passionate kiss between former lovers Holmes and Adler. Check out everything we’ve got on “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Videos MTV Rough Cut: Robert Downey Jr.
Remember last year (and the year before that, and the year before that) when everyone was freaking out about the ” Facebook Anti-Privacy Monopoly “? There were even infographics! As recently as this May lawmakers were touting plans to implement their own solutions to privacy problems caused by Facebook’s monopoly. Then Google+ hit the Interwebs a couple of months ago. Starting tomorrow, Facebook will… Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : Reason Magazine – Hit & Run Discovery Date : 24/08/2011 22:32 Number of articles : 2
Finally, a clip of the doomed Wonder Woman TV series longer than a half-second has crawled onto the interwebs for me to share with you. It’s the very beginning of the big fight scene at the end, where Wonder Woman illegally breaks into evil Veronica Cale’s evil drug factory, which is guarded by the group of ridiculously steroid-ridden thugs you see above. Now, three things: 1) The effects weren’t… Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : Topless Robot Discovery Date : 23/06/2011 22:25 Number of articles : 3
Latest trailer is both action-packed and full of emotion. By Kara Warner “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2” Photo: Warner Bros. Wowza. Wow. Wowza. That is our instant reaction to the latest trailer for “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2,” which just hit the Interwebs Thursday (June 16). Man oh man, is it a doozy. Even for those of us who’ve read the books over and over again and are fully prepared for what’s going to unfold when the film hits theaters on July 17, this latest trailer is so action-packed, so full of intensity and emotion, it’s almost too much to handle. Almost. The trailer opens with a distraught Lily Potter (Harry’s mom) speaking to her infant son. “Harry, be safe,” she says in a strained whisper. “Be strong.” Cut to the words “Every moment he’s lived has led to this,” before an eerie voiceover by evil Dark Lord Voldemort comes in over flashback scenes of key moments in several of the previous seven films. “Harry Potter, you have fought valiantly,” Voldemort sneers. “Now join me, and confront your fate.” From here on out, much like the action in the second half of J.K. Rowling’s seventh Potter book, things get very intense. There are flashes of Voldemort in several states of mind and presence, all of them ferocious and teeming with dark force. “You’ve kept him alive so he can die at the proper moment,” Snape says to him at one point. Cut to Harry, Ron and Hermione riding a dragon, continuing their dangerous quest for the final horcruxes that will help bring an end to the Dark Lord. This is followed by the beginning shots, or so it seems, of the epic battle royale at Hogwarts. Death eaters are surrounding the school, and Professor McGonagall orders the magical protectors of the school to come to life and protect them. What looks like the Dark Lord’s army is shown assembled outside the gates, ready to attack, while our favorite Potter protagonists are shown waiting anxiously inside the school. Suddenly the final battle is in full swing, wands slinging, wizards clashing, all of which can be very briefly summarized by these words: death and destruction. In the midst of all the madness, there are emotional moments that seem to show favorite characters preparing to meet certain death. One poignant moment occurs in a brief exchange between Harry and Snape, a character who has always mysteriously walked the line between good and evil. “Tell them how it happened that night,” Harry says angrily to Snape, before a flashback of Dumbledore’s death appears onscreen. “How you looked him in the eye, a man who trusted you, and killed him!” There is also a brief moment where Harry is surrounded by the ghostly presences of his loved ones, people like his mother and godfather Sirius Black. “You’ll stay with me?” Harry asks his illusory supporters. “Always,” answers his mother. “Until the end,” Black adds. The remaining seconds are all about action, action, action — specifically, the fight between Harry and Voldemort. “Come on, Tom, let’s finish this the way we started,” Harry says to Voldemort as they stand on the precipice of a cliff. “Together!” This is followed by more quick cuts of wand-wielding and explosions. And then Voldemort and Harry are shown battling once more, this time crawling towards one wand. “Only I can live forever,” Voldemort says with finality. Check out everything we’ve got on “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2.” For young Hollywood news, fashion and “Twilight” updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com . Related Photos Harry Potter And The Deathly Hollows Part 2
I did’t really watch the Super Bowl. (Though I am excited that the league’s only nonprofit, community-owned team, the GreenBay Packers, won.) While Sanjay watched, I mucked around on the interwebs, where I saw my twitter stream lit up like a Christmas tree, not so much about the game, but about this Groupon ad: It Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : The Epic Change Blog Discovery Date : 07/02/2011 18:06 Number of articles : 2
