Marcus Nispel’s Conan the Barbarian is shaping up to be the crazypants fantasy actioner of the summer; the only movie with character design strange enough to rival it is Tarsem ‘s Immortals , and that doesn’t hit until November. So dive into Movieline’s gallery of newly released Conan stills — filled with bare chested brawny men, Klingon-like warriors, and razor-fingered Rose McGowan as the tattooed, half-bald witch of your darkest, sexiest nightmares — to see what you’re in for come Aug. 19.
You read that right: Stephen Bannon, whose Sarah Palin documentary The Undefeated has drawn critical ire across the aisles , says an uncut version of his film will be released on demand following its PG-13 theatrical release July 15. The new cut will depict even more of the dastardly violence and vulgarity the former Alaska governor/vice presidential candidate has suffered during her rise in the public eye, including “crucifixions, lynching and suicides” sourced from social media. Pulling a classic double dip! Looks like Hollywood and its hateful methods aren’t all despicable, eh?[ THR ]
‘It’ll have to be around $900 million,’ Tech jokes MTV News about giving up his indie hustle for a major label. By Rob Markman Tech N9ne Photo: MTV News A strange thing happened to Tech N9ne after he dropped his All 6’s and 7’s LP last Tuesday: more than 55,000 devoted fans bought it, making it the fourth-highest selling album this week on the Billboard 200. Many are wondering how the Kansas City, Missouri, rapper got up in the top five among the likes of Adele and Lady Gaga. Well, credit his independent hustle and devoted fanbase for making the release a success. In addition to grabbing that #4 spot, All 6’s and 7’s also ranks as the #1 independent album and rap album this week. And according to Tech, major record companies have been expressing interest in striking a deal with his Strange Music label. “They’ve already been calling, since last year or the year before. They’ve already been calling and asking us questions and stuff,” he told MTV News during an intimate sit-down in his Lee Summit, Missouri, offices last week. Tech and his business partner Travis O’Guin established the indie label Strange Music in 1999, and have been releasing Tech’s music on it ever since. In 2009, it was revealed that the label earned approximately $15 million, thanks to the support of Tech’s fans, who call themselves “Technicians.” When it comes to giving up his independence, Tecca Nina isn’t so quick to sign though. Instead, he loftily aims to grow Strange Music into a major in its own right without partnering up. “I think Strange Music will be the major this year or next year. It’s looking that way,” he said. No matter how things turn out, it’s clear that Tech is happy just the way things are and couldn’t fathom selling off his company. “You might wanna ask Travis this question,” he said laughing, while deferring to O’Guin. “He’ll probably say it’ll have to be around $900 million or something [to sign a deal]. We’re good.” All 6’s and 7’s, which features Lil Wayne, T-Pain , B.o.B and Busta Rhymes, initially drew criticism from some of Tech’s fans, who frowned on the underground icon teaming up with mainstream stars. For some, collabos with such high-profile artists meant that Tech was selling out. “Different artists are supposed to hook up and make something beautiful, that’s what makes music wonderful, I think,” Tech said, defending against criticism. “I already knew what I was gonna do. When I get with these [well-known collaborators], the beats gotta say their names.” After selling 55,715 copies of the album in its first week, Strange Music can put any fear of a fan blacklash to bed.”I can give a sh– about a chart position,” O’Guin told us last week. “A fan telling me that they love the album means more than them little glass trophies. The people, I think, genuinely love the album.” What do you think of Tech N9ne’s success? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists Tech N9ne
Experts weigh in on whether a GLAAD partnership and an apology are enough to make gay fans forgive the ’30 Rock’ star. By John Mitchell Tracy Morgan Photo: Andrew H. Walker/ Getty Images Earlier this week, Tracy Morgan announced that he would be working on GLAAD’s upcoming “Amplify Your Voice” anti-bullying public service campaign, in an effort to make amends for his recent anti-gay remarks at a comedy show in Nashville. But are a GLAAD partnership and a public apology enough to help the “30 Rock” star restore his image, particularly in the eyes of gay fans? “He’s also doing the full-on mea culpa: public apology in the place of transgression, public service announcement, the meeting with GLBT youth,” AfterElton.com editor Brent Hartinger told MTV News. “And it’s worth noting that he did it all fast, which counts a lot.” Former celebrity publicist and PopEater columnist Rob Shuter agreed that the speed with which Morgan addressed the issue may be key to redeeming himself publicly. “Whatever crisis a celebrity has, the best way to resolve it is quickly,” Shuter said. “People forget when you move on and stop talking about it. Tina Fey had to respond, and she did it within 24 hours; within the first phase of the story. That was a big favor. This will pan out best for him if he just gets it all out of the way. I think people believe he’s sorry, and that’s a big thing too.” If the public perceives that Morgan’s apology is sincere, that will no doubt help his cause. Hartinger noted that when former “Grey’s Anatomy” star Isaiah Washington attempted to apologize for a similar, anti-gay gaffe, he did so while portraying himself as the wronged individual, saying his words had been taken out of context. Because of this, Washington’s mea culpa fell on deaf ears. Had he simply owned up to making a mistake, as Morgan has, the public would have been more apt to forgive him. His work with GLAAD and the fact that Morgan works alongside plenty of LGBT people at “30 Rock,” including co-star Cheyenne Jackson, have also revealed that Morgan leads what Hartinger calls a “bifurcated life.” “[He is] comfortable with out gay people in Hollywood and on the set of ’30 Rock,’ but also appeals and panders to an audience that’s comfortable with, even eager for, open homophobia. “He really needs to reconcile these two sides to his professional life,” Hartinger continued. “It’s not enough to continue to be cool around the gay folks at ’30 Rock’ — he was already doing that, so that’s not really an indication of anything sincere. But if he were to take his pro-gay ’30 Rock’ sensibility and somehow incorporate it into his blue-collar life and audience, that would mean a lot to me and would be an indication that his words are actually sincere.” Morgan also benefits from having a vehicle in “30 Rock” to remind people why he is famous in the first place and divert attention away from his comments — or, given the meta nature of the show, address them in a creative way. Shuter said this is often a problem for celebrities: Had Morgan been fired from “30 Rock,” he would have been stranded in his scandal with nowhere to turn. = “That’s why the crisis becomes the legacy, because they have nowhere to go to recover,” he observed. “So, as long as he has ’30 Rock,’ he’ll have something to move on to.” Moving on is key in crisis management, and Morgan has the opportunity to do just that. His willingness to team with GLAAD to address the controversy head on show he knows he did something wrong. He now has to prove to his fans that the homophobic vitriol he spouted from a Nashville stage was just a misguided and unfortunate attempt to shock, and then he’d be smart to lie low and let “30 Rock” do his talking for him for a while.
Shao Xiaoshan claimed on her public Weibo account that she donated over 4,000 yuan (US $616) to the needy Yabo family. However it is reported that, according to Ren that the information was false as he only received 1,000 yuan (US $154) from Shao instead for the 4,000 yuan she so publicly declared. Gillian Chung had recently engaged in an online battle with mainland actress Shao Xiaoshan on the Twitter-like networking site Weibo, reports May Daily. It was reported that their name-calling batt
On Saturday night, somehow, some way, Kim Kardashian overcame the torment she faces about her body and faced the public. She did so on behalf of her new fragrance, “Gold,” which she says reminds her of her late father and “other happy times in my childhood.” “To me, summer is sexy, beachy and glamorous with thoughts turning to romantic evenings,” Kardashian told People at the launch of the perfume outside Miami. “I wanted something powerful yet not too sweet. I got stressed out while developing the scent because I wanted it to be just perfect.” Claiming to embrace her curvy side (for these few seconds, at least), Kim added that she designed the bottle to be “sleek and round” in order to “represent me” and recommended it to fans from personal use: “I spray myself before I go out. The fragrance makes me feel sexy.” [Photo: Johnny Louis/WENN]
Leaving TVB may indeed be better for Amigo Choi, who had seen his public image circle the drain after some high-profile run-ins with the law. The 32-year-old former host of popular television shows like “Jade Solid Gold” had been suspended by TVB since January this year, after he was caught driving even though his driving license had already been suspended because of his drink-driving offence last October. Disgraced Hong Kong television host Amigo Choi is now jobless after TVB terminated his c
Indian boxer Vijender Singh on Sunday announced that he will tie the knot with a Delhi girl on Tuesday. Preparations for Vijender Singh and Archana Singh marriage are on full swing. Pre-marriage rituals and ceremonies were carried out at the boxer#39;s residence in Bhiwani district of Haryana. The residence of the boxer was crowded with family members, relatives and neighbours who came to give their wishes to the groom. Vijender#39;s brother Manoj Singh, said the wedding would take place in t
Buddhist monks march during the Vesak Day ceremony at the Udong mountain in Kandal province May 17, 2011. Buddhists in Cambodia on Tuesday celebrate Vesak Day to honour the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha. The National Parks Board (NParks) on Friday reminded members of the public not to release animals into the wild on Vesak Day (May 17) as they would be doing more harm than good. Its director of conservation, Mr Wong Tuan Wah, said: “We would like to appeal to the public not to relea
Something tells me that when you were playing Nintendo Duck Hunt back in ’87, you never thought to yourself: “This is a true work of art that enhances the public good.” Nearly 25 years later though, that is exactly what the U.S. National Endowment for the Arts is saying about Duck Hunt ‘s sophisticated spawn by allowing the medium to be recognized as a legitimate art form that deserves federal funding.
