This past Thursday the Common Ground Foundation and Virgin Mobile hosted From the Ground Up, a benefit to help raise funds for The Night Ministry of Chicago . Held in his hometown, the day was also reason to celebrate the opening of Virgin Mobile’s first ever flagship store. The Night Ministry of Chicago works to provide housing, healthcare, and human connection to members of the community struggling with poverty or homelessness. The event included poetry, singing, and other performances with kids and young adults from The Night Ministry. Common even did a quick freestyle and gave individual critiques during his meet and greet. All ticket proceeds went to the foundation. It’s stories like this one that give us a break from shaking our heads at all the crazies out there.
Days after he was given the boot from Big Brother for attacking a fellow house guest, Willie Hantz was arrested yesterday for operating a vehicle while intoxicated. The event took place around 2 a.m. in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana and law enforcement officials tell TMZ Hanz made a run for it when officers approached his Camaro. He reportedly refused a refused a breathalyze test and was taken into custody. HOWEVER, Hantz tells a very different story. And he tells it over Twitter. “I wasn’t driving. I was sitting in the driver’s seat with the car running. I know stupid,” he wrote after being released on bail, adding: “I didn’t run from anyone. I was just moving my car like the cops asked me to. Then they came up and arrested me. “If I would have ran then I would have been resisting arrest. I don’t know where that came from.” In conclusion, the brother of Survivor villain Russell Hantz – who has been arrested himself, for assault – told followers: “I mean all I can do is laugh it off. Learn from it. Maybe.”
Hollywood.TV is your source for celebrity gossip, news, and videos of your favorite stars! bit.ly – Click to Subscribe! Facebook.com – Become a Fan! Twitter.com – Follow Us! Hollywood.TV spotted Alec Baldwin making an appearance in the Hamptons to host a screening of the documentary film “Detropia” at the Guild Hall. There was quite a turnout to support the film, and Alec, as always, brought a TON of class to the event. I need to find out where he buys those suits! Hollywood.TV is the global leader in capturing celebrity breaking news as it happens. Launched in 2008, we capture all the latest news, exclusive celebrity interviews, star videos and hot celebrity gossip from around the world every minute of everyday. HTV is on the streets 24/7, at all the industry events and invited by the stars to cover their every move in Hollywood, New York and Miami. Hollywood.TV is currently the third most viewed reporter channel on www.youtube.com YouTube with almost 400 million views, and our footage is seen worldwide! Tune in daily for all the latest Hollywood news on www.hollywood.tv and http like us on Facebook!
Starring in a short film that’s paired with a blockbuster movie seems sort of like being a pinch-hitter who sat on the bench but got invited to take a victory lap with the starting team; the glory is automatic, but it would have been great to be able to play in the big game. But for Marvel movies, short films are more like audition tapes, and Item 47 , which accompanies the September 25 Blu-ray release of The Avengers , introduces two characters – played by Lizzy Caplan and Jesse Bradford – who may soon find themselves joining in on the superhero action, if they prove as appealing to audiences as their ingenuity does to S.H.I.E.L.D. In the short, directed by Marvel co-president Louis D’Esposito, Claire (Caplan) and Benny (Bradford) find a Chitauri weapon and use it to rob banks following the events of The Avengers . Following a fan screening of Item 47 at Comic-con Friday night, Movieline sat down with Caplan and Bradford for a fun conversation about their past, present and (hopefully) future experiences with superhero movies. Had either of you gone out for superhero parts in the past? The industry keeps making those movies in greater numbers. Caplan: Yes, they do. Bradford: Yes, I’d read for a couple, but just because I think this is funny, I read for Captain America . I was literally looking at the material, going, “What are they, crazy? I’m not right for this.” I got nothing to lose by going in there, but I know I’m not going to get it. And I’m walking in there going, “They should just give this job to Chris Evans – he’s perfect for this!” He’s my buddy, and as I was auditioning, I was picturing Chris Evans saying the words. Caplan: That’s hilarious. Had you gone out for anything? Caplan: A few things. I don’t think really for anything Marvel, but a couple of things. But I feel like I’ve gone out for people in those movies who aren’t necessarily superheroes, which is sort of a buzzkill. If you do it, you want to be the hero. How much did they pull back the curtain for you to see Marvel’s machinery? This is meant to be part of a larger universe – although these characters didn’t exist previously, was there anything you had to be careful about with your characters? Caplan: Well, they had it so planned out in their heads by the time we showed up. I mean, they knew everything, and we just kind of had to slide into position – which is cool, because at their compounds, Marvel, they’re just like excited kids about all of this stuff. And so when you walk in, it’s very difficult not to get swept up in that. Bradford: Yeah, they kind of nerd out on their own nerdery in the best way, so it’s contagious. Caplan: They’re nerding their way all of the way to the bank. Bradford: Snort-laughing all of their way to the bank. You guys seemed to be having fun with the fans last night, Lizzy, telling the kid in the audience about all of the emotions you went through during filming. Caplan: I did talk to him, until four in the morning, if you catch my drift. Don’t put that as a headline. Oh, that’s a headline. Caplan: (snapping a pen cap) Aah! Okay, okay, I won’t make that the headline. Bradford: She was thinking about all of the passion last night. Caplan: No, we were talking – we were just talking! Until you gave him the chocolate milk that made him sleepy. Bradford: [Laughs] He’s so cute when he drinks chocolate milk. Caplan: So cute when he just goes to sleep and doesn’t remember. Bradford: He looks like an angel – just like an angel. Wait – what were you really asking us? How much of the humor in the short was on the page, and how tough was it to sort of acknowledge the weirdness of it without sacrificing the believability? Bradford: I think that was there from the start. That was written into the tone for me. Caplan: Yeah, the Marvel guys, I got the feeling that nothing is more hilarious to them than just watching stuff explode. Like that’s the greatest joke they’ve ever seen – which is great, because that’s pretty easy to do. But yeah, there was a lot more footage of us messing around and improvising that they had to tone us down a little bit. Bradford: And they gave us the freedom to do that, which was really nice, and they also shot it properly for that. We were there in a shot together, actually having an interaction, which is better for comedy than cutting. They were going for comedy. Caplan: Yeah, and I think if they let us include how we started shooting that scene, the film would have been like 25 minutes of cutting back and forth, of us doing stupid, stupid stuff. Bradford: We were going on tangents. Caplan: Long ones. Did they talk to you about coming back for one of the films, even if it was in a non-superhero role? Caplan: Honestly, not at the beginning. I didn’t hear until later that they might use these one-shots for this. I thought it was just contained when I signed up. Bradford: Well, I asked in the first meeting I had. Caplan: I don’t ask questions. Bradford: I said, “What’s the goal here?” and they said exactly what the answer is, which is, “The possible goal is that these guys become a part of the world. The other possible thing is that this is it. We just don’t know yet.” So yeah, it’s up in the air. Is there a role that is out there that you’re determined to jump into, transform yourself physically, and become the superhero, or do you prefer playing the roles where you are reacting to the superheroes? Bradford: I think if you’re interested in acting, then you want those kinds of roles. It doesn’t have to be a superhero, really; I mean, I would love to play a skinny, disheveled heroin addict and things like that – it doesn’t have to be a fantastical thing. But you have to find characters that you can really sink your teeth into, and it’s obviously exciting to do. Caplan: I personally love it when I see actors that you wouldn’t expect in movies like this. Like I think Robert Downey Jr. was sort of that in Iron Man , and he was amazing in that. I want to see people I identify with other types of films in something with a scale like this. Bradford: But I also really enjoy playing characters where you’re essentially just being yourself. I don’t think everybody is good at that – it’s kind of a skill to just be sort of natural. Caplan: Sounds like pretty lazy acting to me. Bradford: Well, yeah. Item 47 will debut on the Avengers Blu-ray release on September 25. Todd Gilchrist is a Los Angeles-based film critic and entertainment journalist for a variety of online and print publications. You can follow his work via Twitter at @mtgilchrist .
Because it’s been too long since we all got to bask in the whimsy of Richard Dreyfuss , and because when I try to think about much of anything in this heat I feel a wave of sweat form at my hairline before washing away any hope of finishing said thought, and because it has nothing at all to do with The Dark Knight Rises , here’s a video of the Oscar-winner’s many onscreen laughs over the decades past. You’re welcome!* *: I’m sorry. [via The Atlantic Wire ]
Gen Art, the yearly New York film festival that attracts a good-looking get in-the-know crowd to its packaged week of nightly premieres followed by a party at different NYC hot-spots has unveiled details on its 17th edition taking place August 8 – 14. Missed Connections starring Jon Abrahams and Mickey Sumner will open the festival, while the world premiere of The Kitchen starring Laura Prepon and Dreama Walker will close out the fest. Details follow on Gen Art’s seven feature premieres: The 14 selected films also include performances from actors such as Bryan Greenberg, Kathy Bates, Christopher Lloyd, Toby Hemingway, Kurt Fuller and Jake Hoffman, with directorial debuts from Ryan Eggold ( 90210 ) and Jaime King ( Sin City ). “Our festival this year features intriguing performances from prominent actors as well as some exceptional work from talent making their debuts on both sides of the lens,” commented Marc Lotenberg, CEO of GenArt in a statement. “We look forward to this event every year and are glad to be back to give these talented filmmakers a chance to have their New York city premieres.” 17th Gen Art feature film lineup with descriptions courtesy of the event (all features will be preceded by a short, details can be found at the festival’s website . Missed Connections Director: Martin Snyder (Comedy) In a city of 19 million people, love at first sight happens every instant. But if you fail to act in the moment, how can you find each other again? ‘MISSED CONNECTIONS’ is a dynamic, new independent comedy about the lengths New Yorkers will go to find love. Cast: Jon Abrahams, Mickey Sumner, Malcolm Barrett, Waris Ahluwalia Privacy Director: Jorg Ihle (Thriller) When a young programmer creates a spy app and accidentally hacks into all the smart phones across NYC, he gets way more than he ever expected and soon becomes entangled in a web of romance, crime and murder. Cast: John Shephard, Gina Busch The Magic Life Director: Nelson Cheng (Documentary) “The Magic Life” is a new documentary following three aspiring magicians as they try to pull off the biggest trick of their lives by turning their passion into a profession. Leave Me Like You Found Me Director: Adele Romanski (Drama) After a year of heartbreak and loneliness, Erin and Cal have forgotten enough of each other’s flaws to get back together. Cracks start to show and each is left wondering whether the other has changed enough to make it work this time. Cast: Megan Boone, Patrick Kack-Brice The Silent Thief Director: Jennifer Clary (Thriller) “The Silent Thief” is a fast paced examination of tenuous familial bonds, the human to belong and the thin line between sanity and insanity. Brennan Marley is an outcast drifter who descends upon a family in crisis and attempts to remedy their problems with an odd solution: he will take their biological son’s place in the family unit. Cast: Toby Hemingway, Cody Longo, Frances Fisher, Kurt Fuller Kid-Thing A Zellner Brother Film (Drama) Annie is a rebellious ten-year-old girl. She lives on the outskirts of town with her father Marvin, who, when not herding goats, mostly sleeps the day away. Virtually devoid of parental guidance, Annie is left to fend for herself and do as she pleases until her routine is broken one day while playing in the woods; she hears an old woman calling from deep within an abandoned well, asking for help. Cast: Sydney Aguirre, David Wingo, Nathan & David Zellner The Kitchen Director: Ishai Setton (Comedy) Jennifer (Laura Prepon) is turning 30 and her best friend Stan (Matt Bush) is throwing her a party. But she’s in no mood to celebrate. She just left her job as well as her cheating boyfriend, Paul (Bryan Greenberg). Her sardonic little sister Penny (Dreama Walker) has shown up with a life-changing decision to make and she’s definitely sure she’s too old to be living with her creepy roommate still. Cast: Laura Prepon, Bryan Greenberg, Dreama Walker (World Premiere)
Twilight has been credited with really putting Comic-Con on the map, or if it was on the map already, then it put the massive fanboy (and girl) genre-action-science-fiction-nerd-bonanza front and center in mid-July pop culture. But now the franchise is complete, but the cast came out en force to promote the film (not that it should have much problem luring adoring audiences and their cash). At the event, Beyond The Trailer host Grace Randolph speaks with the stars including Taylor Lautner who gives his personal feelings about Jacob and Robert Pattinson who offers up his view on whether his character has redefined “prince charming.” And of course, there’s Kristen Stewart, aka Vampire Bella. The actress tells what she thinks about the un-dead version of her character and what she thought of her before reading Breaking Dawn . Randolph also speaks with Ashley Greene about villains, and looking quite the adorable young star, Mackenzie Randolph shares insight on Renesmee. Check out the latest Twilight goings-on from the red carpet…
With two weeks to go until Christopher Nolan ‘s The Dark Knight Rises hits theaters, Warner Bros. has made available nearly 50 pages of detailed production notes online that offer behind-the-scenes tidbits on character, plot, costume design, the crazy practical stunts Nolan & Co. pulled off, Batman ‘s new toys, and some of the new faces joining the trilogy. The question is, how much do you want to know? (Bonus: Get the new IMAX poster after the jump!) Given TDKR ‘s set-up — it takes place eight years after the events of The Dark Knight , with Batman in semi-retirement/hiding — and the two new adversaries joining Bruce Wayne/Batman straight from the pages of the comics (i.e. supervillain Bane and super-minx Selina Kyle/ Catwoman ), some of this is already familiar to Bat-fans. And while the production note dossier includes only a few semi-spoilery details on certain scenes and characters, unless you’re committed to going into TDKR with as pure and spoiler-free a mind as possible, the doc is fairly safe to peruse, and chock full of geeky details. The bigger discoveries here concern the supporting characters in Batman/Bruce Wayne’s life, including Gary Oldman’s Commissioner Gordon and new characters Miranda Tate (Marion Cotillard) and Gotham City police officer John Blake (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). Below, read a few select passages and get the pretty new TDKR IMAX poster: [BEWARE SPOILERS! WHO KNOWS WHAT YOUR VIRGIN BAT-EYES WILL DISCOVER!] On Gordon, who’s now wrestled with Batman’s secret for eight years: “Gary Oldman returns to the role of Gotham City’s top cop, Commissioner Gordon, who withheld the truth of Harvey Dent’s demise at great personal cost. ‘He respects Batman’s sacrifice, but allowing the citizens of Gotham to be fed a lie goes against everything that Gordon believes in,’ the actor says.” “…to a certain extent, Gordon was more useful to the political leaders of Gotham when the city was overrun by organized crime,” Nolan points out. “Now that is under control, so there are people eyeing his job, presuming he’s no longer needed. But Gordon has been struggling with the fact that all of this is based on a false foundation.” “It’s a secret that’s eaten away at him for years,” confirms Gary Oldman. “Crime is at an all-time low in Gotham, but Gordon knows that it’s tainted. Now he’s ready to come clean, but there doesn’t seem to be a right time or place, and he also questions if the city is ready for the truth. Then, because of Bane, he’s in the field again. I think he’s like a soldier who likes to be on the front lines, getting his hands dirty. He’s probably been doing a lot of paper pushing in the intervening years and that has dampened his spirits. Now you really feel like the old Gordon is back.” On John Blake, AKA the fresh-scrubbed idealistic young cop guy played by Joe Gordon-Levitt: Gordon finds a new protégé in policeman John Blake, whose devotion to the job impresses his boss. Emma Thomas says, “Gordon definitely sees something of himself as a young cop in John Blake. Everyone else seems to have lost focus because things have been so good, but Blake is the first to realize that something’s up, and Gordon recognizes those instincts by promoting him and putting him on his team.” Describing his role, Joseph Gordon-Levitt says, “John Blake is the kind of guy who probably always wanted to be a cop and dedicates himself to being excellent at his job. He is someone who believes in what he does and I admire that in anybody. In the midst of a lot of cynicism, he remains proud to be a police officer.” Nolan comments, “Commissioner Gordon and Bruce Wayne have become somewhat jaded, so we wanted to contrast that with a younger, more idealistic individual who, in a way, represents where they’ve come from. Joe really captured the strength and courage of a man who refuses to back down, regardless of the odds.” On Miranda Tate, a wealthy new love interest for Bruce Wayne played by Inception ‘s leading lady, Marion Cotillard: The character of Miranda Tate can also relate to Bruce, albeit from a place of affluence. Cast in the role, Marion Cotillard notes, “They both have a lot of money and are trying to use it in a good way, so they understand each other right away.” Bale agrees. “Miranda is somebody who is encouraging Bruce to use his resources for the betterment of Gotham through an environmental project. She is beautiful, smart and altruistic, and all the good that she aspires to earns his respect and also intrigues him a great deal.” A member of the board of Wayne Enterprises, Miranda’s affluence makes her a vital ally to Bruce when the company becomes the target of a hostile takeover. On a more personal level, Nolan says, “She is looked at by Alfred and Lucius as a woman who could perhaps bring Bruce out of his own exile and remind him that there is more to life than sitting alone in the Batcave. On Bane and his dastardly terrorist plans for Gotham City: “Working underground and undetected, Bane is plotting a multi-pronged attack on Gotham, involving firepower, finance and fear…” While the Scarecrow was a madman and the Joker an anarchist, “Bane is a terrorist in both his mentality and his actions,” says actor Tom Hardy, who plays Batman’s new arch-nemesis. “He is physically intimidating and he’s also very intelligent, which makes him even more dangerous.” Nolan relates, “In deciding on who the next villain would be, it was imperative that it was someone completely different from the Joker—that he be a brute force. The physical component of what Bruce Wayne does as Batman is of extraordinary importance, and we had not truly challenged that in the first two films. I really wanted to see Batman meet his match physically, as well as intellectually. Bane is raw strength with a fanatical devotion to duty, and that combination makes him unstoppable.” And finally, the newly unveiled IMAX poster for TDKR . It’s gorgeous in a painterly way, and in contrast to previous posters and promo images for the film, presents the Bat-sign in the sky as signaling a break in the clouds from all that chaos reigning down on Gotham City. Batman stands triumphant once more above his city shining his light through all the debris of Bane’s fiery terror, and stuff. Nice. For loads more on TDKR , including details on the 100+ piece Batsuit, Bane’s mask, the airborne new vehicle known as The Bat, and Nolan’s insane practical mid-air plane stunt, find the full production notes here . [via THR ] The Dark Knight Rises hits theaters on July 20. What do you make of these 50 pages of Bat-tidbits? (Did you cave in to curiosity?) Chime in below with your thoughts on the highly anticipated sequel. Follow Jen Yamato on Twitter . Follow Movieline on Twitter .
Swedish-born actor Stellan Skarsgard has run a wide gamut of film roles in his career. His blockbuster fare includes roles in Marvel’s The Avengers and last year’s Thor . He appeared in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo , Mamma Mia as well as artier titles like A Somewhat Gentle Man (2010) and fellow Scandinavian Lars von Trier’s Melancholia (2011), Dogville (2003) and Dancer in the Dark (2000). One of his next projects is the controversial filmmaker’s next two films, which have already titillated fans of the enigmatic Danish director. Skarsgard gave a bit of insight about the back to back projects, The Nymphomaniac and The Nymphomaniac Part 2 , which, perhaps unsurprisingly, promise to live up to their titles. Skarsgard will star opposite Charlotte Gainsbourg in what the actor recently joked is “the porno we’re doing…” The films are described as a “light and poetic story” of a woman’s erotic journey from birth to the age of 50 as told via the main character who is a self-diagnosed nymphomaniac. Initially, the “erotic journey” part of the story was allegedly being fulfilled by porn-star stand-ins, but Skarsgard left unclear who was doing what, though apparently there will be no shortage of carnal delights for von Trier fans to indulge in. He told Sabotage Times, “I pick up Charlotte Gainsbourg’s character on the street and take her back to my apartment, and over two movies we talk about her time as a nymphomaniac.” He added, “There’s a lot of fucking in it. A lot of fucking in it.” The 61 year-old actor, who will also appear in Thor 2 , which will be out next year said he feels “at home” in both big budget movies as well as micro-budget independents. “I’m at home everywhere. If I’ve been doing a small, shoestring budget art-house film that’s very dark and that nobody will see, but that’s very good, it’s nice to go and do something fluffier. I’m extremely privileged in that I manage to enjoy myself all the time with very different materials.” [Source: Sabotage Times via Contactmusic ]
Summertime is blockbuster season, and with it comes the usual onslaught of promotional tie-ins. Naturally, The Amazing Spider-Man has generated its share of interesting merchandising partners. However, with great products come great risibility, and with over ninety promotional partners it was inevitable that some of the marketing would miss the mark. From odd adult eyewear to a line of cosmetics, take your pick of the items that failed in the goal to get your spending-sense tingling. Promotional Partners in Crime In this new era, with all the kids living on the inter-tubes, the concept of keeping the details of your film a secret is a dwindling enterprise. Directors endeavor to preserve the crucial plot points of their film, hoping those details can remain veiled with closed sets, limited script releases, performers signing non-disclosure agreements, and all manner of clandestine control of their intellectual property. That is why it becomes amusing when all these efforts become unraveled by unintentional reveals by the companies licensed to sell branded merchandise. (Obligatory spoiler-alert!) Up until last December the visuals of The Amazing Spider-Man ’s villain – The Lizard – had been a closely guarded secret. That is, up until a certain confection company released promotional materials for retailers. Suddenly the web was abuzz because everyone had a sense of how he would appear – courtesy of The Lizard Pez dispenser. A few months later key plot spoilers were discovered when construction-toy maker Mega Bloks released their tie-in play sets at an annual toy fair. Fanboys began drooling over the fact that key moments of the film were rendered via injection-mold plastic. One involved a mechanical battle frame Rhys Ivans would use to combat our hero, while another diorama exposed a battle at an underground laboratory. Yet another play set shows a climactic battle that ensues atop the Oscorp Tower. The addition of what were described as “S.W.A.T. Team Lizard” action figures tipped the hand of yet another plot detail. If you want to learn the details of upcoming films, go to aisle 8 at Toys-R-Us! “Ate” Legged Freaks Common among summertime blockbusters are the food tie-ins, and Peter Parker does not disappoint here. Kelloggs and Keebler together have forged a shopping cart full of products, from a disturbing-looking cereal to Cheese-It crackers to fruit snacks. The Spidey-branded Rice Krispy Treats not only get spider graphics on the box and wrappers, they’re comprised of industrially-dyed red pieces. These, I suppose are emblematic of the color associated with our hero. The end result is something… different ; the unwrapped product takes on more of a viral appearance that seems to make it more appropriate for a film like Contagion . Twizzlers candy has also joined the fray, using their licorice as more than a supplemental confection: They’re selling it as a key component in the Spidey universe. The eponymous hero is shown crouched on a web made of the candy, and even the film’s logo is rendered in red licorice. Better still is the corporate explanation, which tells us in a press release just how perfect Twizzlers complements the Spider-Man moviegoing experience: “Twizzlers Twisted Web! From the candy’s signature red color to its web-like characteristics, our iconic Twizzlers Twists are the perfect complement to sweeten fans’ movie experience.” That’s something for fans to bear in mind as they are about to breeze past the concession stand. And you thought deciding whether to see this in 3-D was going to be the big decision. Surprising among the numerous promo partners is that the fast food licensing rights went to the lesser franchise Carl’s Jr. (Burger King carries those rights in most Latin America markets). Now, before stampeding to a local burger joint for a collector cup there’s something to bear in mind. On July 4 the Carl’s Jr. restaurants offered their “Spider-Man Eats Free” promotion. This actually means that anyone arriving at the restaurant decked out in full Spider-Man attire in theory received a free Amazing Grilled Cheese Bacon Burger. To get a sense of who might show up, behold what the company envisions for its own lobbies. Across the Pacific we find our favorite niche territory marketing partner Jolibee has teamed up with Spidey. The Phillipine chicken magnate has once again offered up a collectors bird bucket – filled with its signature “Chickenjoy” – decorated in heroic graphics. Jollibee also offers a number of toy food promotions with our webbed hero, one of which makes me pause; the Spidey ring-toss toy has a rather curious design. Now, a better person may avoid mentioning this appears to display rectal violation of the web slinger, but amazingly I’m not better than that. Nor am I above noting how he seems to be enjoying things in this particular pose. Better to simply move on. Roll Your Eyes-Play It goes without saying that there are a crap-ton of toys associated with any given superhero film. One of the talked-about aspects of this reboot helps the kids out: In years past the tots had to contend with clunky web delivery contraptions to replicate the physiological spinnerets displayed in the previous three efforts. Now, even as the toys have not gotten better, Marc Webb ’s Spider-Man has Peter Parker employing a mechanical web shooter means the kids will have a much easier time getting their Andrew Garfield on. Variations in design involve these toys launching various media, from twine to rubberized webs, to water. Parents will especially cherish the “Silly String” version, which can stain household fabrics and requires rapid replacement of the “web fluid.” Among the action figures there’s one particular curiosity. Remember the scene in The Amazing Spider-Man where Spider-Man had to take to his dune buggy to battle an evil scourge? Of course you don’t remember, because nowhere in the franchise, nor the comic pantheon, does Spidey EVER get behind the wheel of such a conveyance. Despite that reality, your kids can relive the moment which never occurred. About the closest you can arrive to this object making any sense would possibly involve some random scene involving The Sandman from Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 3 – and that is a monumental stretch. Why? Cos(play) You Can When you imagine the entire realm of the Spider-Man universe I’m certain the first thing to come to mind is an array of colored finger nail polishes. Cosmetic manufacturer OPI has released a line of lacquer colors in conjunction with the film. The hues range across the spectrum, with names that evoke the film. Number One Nemesis, Just Spotted the Lizard, Call Me Gwen-Ever, Into The Night, Your Web Or Mine, Shatter The Scales, and My Boyfriend Scales Walls. The last one, for the record, is white. All of them, for the record, make little to no sense. Footwear tie-ins for the kids are another commonality in comic book-based releases. The Amazing Spider-Man has generated quite a few different designs, but the most arresting has to arrive courtesy of Striderite. Not only does the design resemble the famed mask, but with each step the eyes flash. As the company states, “Your little super hero will feel like the real deal with light-up powers.” It’s a little difficult to gather, however, just how Spider-Man is particularly connected with the power of light. Clearly someone did their homework. So let’s say you’re near a group of shrieking 6-year-old harridans and they are all sporting shoes that strobe. The retinal damage one may incur is a potential threat, but you can ward off those rays from their Spidey shoes with this functional and entirely sane-looking set of Spider-Man glasses. Sure, you may run the risk of getting kicked out of the Chuck E. Cheese if caught wearing these, but let’s be honest here; you probably deserve it. Brad Slager has written about movies and entertainment for Film Threat , Mediaite , and is a columnist at CHUD.com . His less insightful impressions on entertainment can be found on Twitter .
