Madonna tries to control Guy with "marriage contract"

Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie arrive on the red carpet at the 61st Cannes Film Festival, May 21, 2008. [Agencies]

(China Daily) Madonna tried to control Guy Ritchie with a "marriage contract", it has been claimed.

The "contract" was drawn up after the couple - who split after nearly eight years of marriage two weeks ago - visited marriage counsellors two years ago.

The document gave intimate instructions such as how much private time the couple should have together, how often they were to have sex and how to tackle arguments.

According to Britain's The Sun newspaper the document ordered Guy to "Work to enrich his wife's emotional and spiritual wellbeing," and devote time to reading texts related to Kabbalah, the mystical offs

On sex, the marriage rules state both of the couple should "devote time to our sexual expressiveness" and "not use sex as a stick to beat one another".

The rules also detailed how Guy should "resolve conflicts in a constructive way", and if they were arguing he must not shout at his wife, but look her in the eye and say: "I understand that my actions have upset you, please work with me to resolve this."

A source close to the couple said: "Guy felt bound up."

According to other insiders, Madonna pinned the contract to the wall of the couple's home in New York, and if things became heated between them, she would say: "Contract, Guy, contract."

The British film director was spotted on the set of his new film 'Sherlock Holmes' in the UK yesterday (28.10.08), strumming a classical guitar.

He reportedly took up the instrument after Madonna bought him one while they were dating.

After Guy reportedly rejected his wife's initial offer of a £20 million settlement, Madonna's friends are reportedly calling him "Material Guy", in reference to her famous hit 'Material Girl'. He maintains he is only requesting the cash equivalent of the value of their London home - estimated to be worth £25 million - and their country estate in Wiltshire.



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Jennifer Aniston's furious with Pink

(China Daily) Jennifer Aniston is fuming with Pink because she believes she called her "stupid".

The former 'Friends' star is reportedly furious with Pink after the singer made a veiled attack against Jennifer during a conversation with the actress' boyfriend John Mayer.

Pink, 29, explained: "I got into an argument with him. He said something along the lines of, 'I only s**g really stupid women', and I said, 'I guess they would have to be.'

"I don't get him and Jennifer at all."

Jennifer is said to be so furious with the 'So What' singer's comments she has ordered her friends not to speak to her.

A source told Britain's Daily Star newspaper: "She's livid that Pink would suggest she is stupid like that in public. But Pink was actually defending Jennifer - John infuriated her by talking about women like that.

"Jennifer has already made it quite clear that Pink is to be blacklisted among her circle."

Jennifer, 39, and John, 31, reconciled earlier this month.

They originally split up in September after dating for around three months.



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Mariah Carey's cookie outfit

Singer Mariah Carey performs during the 2008 Fashion Rocks concert to begin the 2009 Spring/Summer Fashion Week in New York September 5, 2008.[Agencies]

(China Daily) Mariah Carey wants to dress up as a chocolate chip cookie for Halloween.

The 38-year-old singer is considering several costume options for the spooky holiday, and is adamant she and husband Nick Cannon, 28, will have matching outfits.

Mariah told Us Weekly magazine: "One option is a sexy firefighter and Nick can be a regular firefighter guy. Then we have an Egyptian. The third idea takes a little imagination here... I would be a chocolate chip cookie.

"It's just like a two-piece little number, and it's made out of the chocolate chip cookie fabric. Then you have actual cookies sewn on.

"Nick made this up and he was only kidding, but I liked it. He would be a milk carton with a 'missing' sign over his head."

Mariah and Nick aren't the first celebrity couple to adopt a his-and-hers theme this Halloween.

Earlier this week, Gwen Stefani and husband Gavin Rossdale attended Kate Hudson's annual Halloween party dressed as a fried egg and bacon rashers respectively.

Married couple Courteney Cox and David Arquette also partied with Kate, in matching witch and warlock costumes.



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Zac Efron's Footloose fortune

(China Daily) Zac Efron is set to earn £5 million for starring in a remake of hit 80s film 'Footloose'.

The 21-year-old star will play Ren McCormack, originally portrayed by Kevin Bacon, after movie bosses were impressed by the incredible success of his latest film 'High School Musical 3'.

Kevin has given the remake his blessing, saying: "I think it's a great idea. He's a great choice. He's very talented."

The film has been pushed forward in order to capitalise on the popularity of the Disney film franchise, and will see Zac once again teaming up with Kevin Ortega, director of all three 'High School Musical' films.

'Footloose' is scheduled for release in 2010, and will include new material as well as some songs from the original movie, such as Bonnie Tyler's 'Holding out For A Hero'.

Ortega recently revealed Zac would be his ideal choice to star as Ren, saying: "I think he'd be the perfect, perfect, perfect candidate to step in. I mean he's got this global excitement, this wonderful know-how.

"He's the perfect age, so versatile, and talented and dynamic. You know it's hard for me to even imagine anybody that I think would be more perfectly suited."



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Michael Jackson's approved an attempt to break 'Thriller' record

U.S. pop star Michael Jackson receives the Diamond Award during the World Music Awards at Earl's Court in London in this November 15, 2006 file photo. Jackson turns 50 on August 29, 2008.[Agencies]

(China Daily) Michael Jackson has approved an attempt to break the world record for dancing to his hit song 'Thriller'.

Fans and Jackson look-a-likes are set to flock to the Madame Tussauds wax museum in New York today to try to break the Guinness World Record of the most people doing a simultaneous 'Thriller' dance.

The attempt marks the 25th anniversary of the iconic video's debut - which featured Michael and an array of dancing zombies - which premiered on MTV in 1983.

While the pop icon himself won't take part, he has lent his support to the stunt, saying: "I always thought Halloween and 'Thriller' fit each other like a glove."

Earlier this week, it was rumoured that Michael - who was seen shopping for Halloween costumes with his three children, Prince Michael, 10, Paris, nine, and Prince Michael II, five, yesterday - is preparing to head out on the road with the Jackson 5.

The brothers - Michael, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Randy and Marlon - are reportedly planning a world tour next year, for which they will be joined by their sister, 'Together Again' singer Janet Jackson.

Jermaine is quoted as saying: "This has been a long time coming for the Jackson family to get back together. It is just the timing, so what we've been doing is working on the music and all the logistics."

No dates have yet been announced.



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Gwen Stefani unveils her baby boy

(China Daily) Gwen Stefani has released the first official pictures of her son Zuma Nesta Rock.

The No Doubt singer - who welcomed Zuma, her second child with husband Gavin Rossdale, into the world in August - posted a touching portrait of herself and her new baby on her website.

To accompany the photo, Gwen wrote: "We wanted to share with you the first photo of Zuma Nesta Rock Rossdale. Gwen, Gavin, Kingston and Zuma are all doing well and enjoying being a party of four."

The picture shows a wide-eyed Zuma, who has blue eyes, an open mouth and a smattering of downy hair, cuddling up to Gwen's bare shoulder.

The 39-year-old star looks relaxed and happy in the shot, while Zuma already appears at ease in front of the camera.

Gwen and Zuma were also pictured together at the Beverley Hills library on Wednesday.

Zuma, wearing dark shorts and a white vest with his hair sticking up in a tuft, was being photographed for his first passport.

His mother, dressed casually in a studded denim jacket with a slick of her trademark red lipstick, looked on adorningly as Zuma posed for his picture.

Gwen's outfit was slightly more casual than her choice of attire at Kate Hudson's Halloween party on Sunday, when she surprised onlookers with her unusual fried egg costume.



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Victoria Beckham's underwear ad

Victoria Beckham poses for photographers as she arrives to launch her 'Signature' fragrance at Harvey Nichols in Manchester, northern England, August 29, 2008.[Agencies]

(China Daily) Victoria Beckham is to star in a £12 million advertising campaign for Emporio Armani underwear.

The former Spice Girls star will follow in the footsteps of her soccer star husband David by modelling the fashion giant's lingerie line.

Victoria said: "To be given this opportunity to work with Giorgio Armani is thrilling. I have so much respect for him."

The campaign will be unveiled for the spring/summer 2009 season.

Giorgio Armani said: "Who better than Victoria Beckham to launch our new global Emporio Armani underwear campaign?

"Victoria is a style icon, a dynamic lady whose influence and recognition will add great excitement to the continued international growth of our Emporio Armani women's underwear business."

The 34-year-old beauty posed for the photographs in Malibu, California, where she lives with David and their three sons.

The exclusive pictures were shot by renowned photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, who also took the photos of David for campaign earlier this year.

David - who caused controversy when his advertisement was unveiled, with some critics claiming the pictures had been airbrushed to make him appear well-endowed - previously revealed he was "nervous" about stripping off for the shots.

He said: "I was really nervous because I knew my mother was going to see it. When the adverts came out, she was the first one to call me and say, 'What are you doing?' I tried explaining it to her, but she didn't really get it!"



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Julia Roberts too old to reprise 'Pretty Woman' sequel?

Actor Bruce Willis plants a kiss on the cheek of actress Julia Roberts as they arrive for a staged reading of "The World of Nick Adams," at Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco, California October 27, 2008.[Agencies]

More Photos: Julia Roberts attends Paul Newman charity benefit

Julia Roberts has ruled out appearing in a sequel to her hit movie 'Pretty Woman'.

The actress - who turned 41 October 28 - has no intention of reprising her role as prostitute Vivian Ward in a follow-up to the hugely popular film, because she thinks she is too old.

Asked whether she would ever consider reuniting with former co-star Richard Gere for a sequel, Julia replied: "I don't think so! No one wants to see an old hooker, do they?"

Julia celebrated her birthday early on Monday night in San Francisco restaurant Jardiniere, accompanied by husband Danny Moder and celebrity pals including Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Bruce Willis, Sean Penn, Robin Wright Penn, Billy Crystal and Jack Nicholson.

Diners inside the exclusive eaterie reported the star-studded table sang 'Happy Birthday' to Julia and to Rita, who turned 52 on October 26.

Julia - who paid tribute to late actor Paul Newman with a reading at The World Of Nick Adams event earlier that evening - also explained the odd patch of pink hair she was sporting.

She said: "Well, my daughter Hazel said, 'Mommy, I wish you had pink hair', and I said, 'Well, I don't know if all of it would look nice', so I just did a little patch!"

Julia and Danny have three-year-old twins Hazel and Phinneaus and a 16-month-old son Henry together.


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Movie : Soul Men

Movie Info :

Title : Soul Men
Genres: Comedy
Running Time: 1 hr. 43 min.
Release Date: November 7th, 2008 (wide)
Distributors: MGM Distribution Company
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Bernie Mac, Sharon Leal, Affion Crockett, P.J. Byrne
Directed by: Malcolm D. Lee
Produced by: David Friendly, Steven Greener, Charles Castaldi
Production Co.: Friendly Films, Handprint Entertainment
Writer: Robert Ramsey, Matthew Stone
Studios: Dimension Films
Produced in: United States
Official website : http://www.soulmen-movie.com/



Synopsis :

Two former backup soul singers, Louis (Samuel L. Jackson) and Floyd (Bernie Mac) travel cross country to perform at a tribute concert in honor of their famous former band leader. They haven't spoken to each other in 20 years but reluctantly agree to travel together for the tribute performance.



Movie Review :

By Prairie Miller

If the soul lives on after man, then the movie Soul Men could not have been graced with a more fitting title, and one that incorporate by chance those multiple meanings. A showcase for three extraordinary performers - Samuel L. Jackson, Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes, the movie is simultaneously an unscheduled farewell tribute to the latter two, whose sudden, untimely deaths occurred within a day of each other this past August, prior to what would be their last movie's release.



The story of two backup singer has-beens of a once popular group who are pressured by promoters to get together again three decades later to pay tribute to their lead singer (John Legend) who just died, Soul Men is a kind of musical memory lane road movie with lots of weirdly comical detours in between. Floyd (Bernie Mac) is a down in the dumps, bored and aimless leisure class insomniac, while Louis (Samuel L. Jackson) is a penniless but proud ex-con cellar dweller.



The reunion of this depressed duo is far from smooth, to say the least. Resentment has barely subsided over the years, in connection with a long unresolved rivalry for the same woman. But those romantic grudges hardly seem to hold sway while the two make their way cross-country in Floyd's vintage chartreuse Eldorado convertible for the comeback concert at Harlem's Apollo, as both chase women from town to town, and Floyd keeps popping that Viagra.

The production could have done without all the crude country yokel jokes as part of the itinerary of this incidental tribute in its own right to Hayes and Mac, but then who knew. Balancing out the vulgarities especially targeting older women for ridicule (okay, we forgive you this last time, Bernie) are musical interludes that just take your breath away. Including an impromptu deja vu rehearsal on a dusty road to 'I'm Your Puppet,' a rendezvous with Bernie Mac in a piano shaped coffin, of all places, and Isaac Hayes doing 'Never Can Say Goodby' over the closing credits.



Director Malcolm Lee (Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins, Undercover Brother) has fashioned an uneven but heartfelt homage to two sorely missed entertainers, and to an entire musical generation that created and embodied the notion of soul as a sound and a way of life. Soul Men, a tender, tangy and wild tale in a kooky convergence of music, memory and male bonding blues. And a movie truly about lasting impressions, where you're very likely to laugh till you cry, when not the other way around.

Taken From : http://newsblaze.com



Soul Men Trailer (HQ)






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Movie : Repo! The Genetic Opera

Movie Info:

Title: Repo! The Genetic Opera
Genres: Horror, Musical/Performing Arts, Science Fiction/Fantasy and Adaptation
Running Time: 1 hr. 37 min.
Release Date: November 7th, 2008 (limited)
MPAA Rating: R for strong bloody violence and gore, language, some drug and sexual content.
Distributors: Lionsgate
Starring: Anthony Head, Alexa Vega, Paris Hilton, Paul Sorvino, Nivek Ogre
Directed by: Darren Lynn Bousman
Produced by: Jonathan McHugh, Mark Burg, Oren Koules
Official website : http://www.repo-opera.com/



Synopsis :

In the year 2056 – the not so distant future – an epidemic of organ failures devastates the planet. Out of the tragedy, a savior emerges: GeneCo, a biotech company that offers organ transplants… for a price. Those who miss their payments are... In the year 2056 – the not so distant future – an epidemic of organ failures devastates the planet. Out of the tragedy, a savior emerges: GeneCo, a biotech company that offers organ transplants… for a price. Those who miss their payments are scheduled for repossession and hunted by villainous Repo Men.

In a world where surgery addicts are hooked on painkilling drugs and murder is sanctioned by law, a sheltered young girl searches for the cure to her own rare disease as well as information about her family’s mysterious history. After being sucked into the haunting world of GeneCo, she is unable to turn back, as all of her questions will be answered at the wildly anticipated spectacular event: The Genetic Opera.



Movie Review :

by: agentorange

There's been some controversy lately surrounding the question of how the studios could have made the decision to give Repo! The Genetic Opera an extremely limited theatrical run when it's backed by such huge star power and has captured the film going nation with its one of a kind marketing campaign. Well people, I got the answer loud and clear tonight when the projector started to broadcast one of the most ill conceived messes in the history of film. This horrendous belch of a movie is so extremely terrible that I honestly consider it a civil service that studios have refused to push it upon an unsuspecting public and perhaps even proof that Hollywood suits do in fact have souls under their Armani blazers.

Some words that come immediately to mind about Repo! The Genetic Opera; obnoxious, tacky, cheap, annoying, messy, grotesque, talentless, retarded and, perhaps most damning of all, boring. And, judging by some early walkouts, I'd say I wasn't the only one who feels this way. At first I was reveling in the idea that Edmonton Alberta was the only theatrical stop the film was to make in Western Canada, but now I'm wondering if we weren't the target of some cruel joke, or market test research. At any rate I should probably get onto some details.

Honestly, the plot is so unimportant to the whole spectacle of the film its not even worth getting into in fine detail here. All you need to know is that it's a future world where a company called Gene Co. has perfected organ transplants. It's owned by one family of severely f-ed up deviants who are all addicted in some way to surgery. In fact, in this world, everyone is obsessed with perfection and use Gene Co.'s services for all kinds of ill advised surgery. Thing is, if you can't pay your bills, they send the Repo man to reclaim their property. Ultimately though, the story is about old rivalries between two families coming to a head.

Sounds like an awesome premise doesn't it? And that it surely is, but it's how the whole thing is put together that's truly appalling. The opening credits use comic book pages to tell the back story. They look amazing, but right away you could tell something wasn't right. The pacing was off, the music was annoying, and you could tell the audience wasn't really getting into it (I heard laughing)...

... and then the singing started. OMG. Granted, I'm not that into musicals, but I'm more than willing to get into them when need be. But the songs are so creatively bankrupt they made me flinch. The lyrics are laughable, and I've heard better hard rock coming out of a hillbilly's muscle car. It certainly didn't help that half the film's cast couldn't really even sing all that well. Poor Paul Sorvino. At least Paris Hilton has made a career out of being a half talent, but to make a talent like Sorvino be part of such a cinematic boner is inexcusable.

One thing the film had going for it were the amazing visuals. The costumes and set designs were all Dirty Victorian Chic to perfection and honestly staggering (though often amazing CGI vistas would trump sets that looked like cheap theater backdrops). There's no question that Goths are gonna flip their lids over the whole world that's created and it's the only reason this film gets the 3 points it did.

This movie will either be a 10 out of 10 or a 0 out of 10 for pretty much everyone who sees it this year, but I think it'll definitely end up in IMDB's bottom 100 when all is said and done.

Taken From : http://www.quietearth.us



Official Repo! Genetic Opera trailer (2008)






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Brad Pitt's divorce fear

Brad Pitt won't marry Angelina Jolie because he fears getting divorced again.

Actors Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie arrive for the New York Film Festival premiere of "Changeling" in New York October 4, 2008.[Agencies]

The 'Burn After Reading' star - who split from former wife Jennifer Aniston in 2005, shortly before he began his relationship with the 'Tomb Raider' star - was reportedly left traumatised by the breakdown of his marriage and is refusing to walk down the aisle a second time.

A source told Life and Style Weekly magazine: "Brad's divorce from Jennifer was painful. It was hard on his parents and he considers it a major failure in his life.

"His big excuse for not marrying Angelina is that he hates even the possibility of something like that happening again."

Angelina recently revealed their six children have begun asking why they have not yet married.

She said: "Sooner or later it will be the kids who ask us to get married. You know, they see films and start asking questions. Such as, 'Why are Shrek and his love Fiona married and you're not?'"

Meanwhile, the couple have reportedly hired six nannies and several cars to help them cope with their large family while Brad is filming 'Inglourious B******s' in Germany.

Mya Walters, a public relations manager for car company Volkswagen, revealed: "We've provided them with more than 20 Volkswagens while they're here in Berlin."

During a recent trip to New Orleans, the couple - who raise three adopted children, a biological two-year-old daughter and three-month-old twins together - originally flew out with four nannies but had to jet in an extra two after reportedly struggling to manage their large brood.

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AC/DC back in "Black" with global smash

By Dean Goodman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Fire the cannon, and hail Australia's most successful rock export.

AC/DC have topped pop charts around the world with their first album in eight years, proving that fans never tire of a middle-aged guitarist who dresses like a schoolboy and a singer whose voice sounds painfully raspy.

In the United States, "Black Ice" sold more than 780,000 copies during its first week of exclusive release through Wal-Mart Stores Inc, a group spokeswoman said on Tuesday, hours before the band begins a world tour.

The Columbia Records release ranks as the second-biggest opening of the year behind the million-copy start for rapper Lil Wayne's "Tha Carter III" in June. It easily outsold major new releases from rock bands such as Coldplay and Metallica.

With 15 studio albums in 33 years to their name, AC/DC have topped the U.S. chart only one other time, with 1981's "For Those About to Rock We Salute You," whose title track is bolstered by "live" cannon every time it is played on stage.

The band, led by 55-year-old guitarist Malcolm Young and his 53-year-old brother Angus, who favors prep-school attire on stage, also went to No. 1 in 28 other countries, including the U.K., Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and Argentina.

In all, more than 5 million copies of "Black Ice" were shipped worldwide, and the band expects to sell an additional 5 million or so copies of its back catalog this year, the spokeswoman said.

AC/DC COOL AGAIN

AC/DC are a "proven brand," said the band's biographer Arnaud Durieux, who co-wrote the book "AC/DC: Maximum Rock & Roll," and maintains the ac-dc.net fan Web site.

He credited Columbia's aggressive marketing, the hype surrounding the Wal-Mart deal, and the massive popularity of music-based videogames such as Rock Band and Guitar Hero with creating a snowball effect.

"The mainstream media, which has mainly ignored the band for the past 28 years, woke up again and now the band is 'cool' again," he added.

The Youngs, along with singer Brian Johnson, bass player Cliff Williams and drummer Phil Rudd, begin a world tour late on Tuesday in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., 100 miles northwest of Philadelphia. Tickets for the arena tour have reportedly sold out quickly, despite the worst economic crisis since the 1930s. The band's last major world tour, to promote its 2000 release "Stiff Upper Lip," ran for a year through mid-2001.

Sales of recorded music have slumped since then, ravaged by Internet piracy, and the exclusive deal with Wal-Mart was an undeniable lure. The world's largest retailer accounts for an estimated 30 percent of CD sales in the United States.

Indeed, exclusive tie-ins with retailers are becoming increasingly common for veteran acts. The Eagles last year teamed with Wal-Mart for their first album in 28 years, while Guns N' Roses will next month release their first album of new material since 1991 through Best Buy Co Inc.

Traditional music retailers were not thrilled by the AC/DC deal, according to consultant Clark Benson.

"Other retailers in the U.S. don't think it's very 'rock and roll' for AC/DC -- who have that rare following that spans generations -- to have gotten in bed with Wal-Mart," said Benson, CEO and founder of market research firm Almighty Institute of Music Retail.

But the Wal-Mart exclusive has not prevented them from getting in on the action. In Hollywood, just around the corner from a temporary Wal-Mart store selling the album for $11.88, a Virgin Megastore was reselling it for $16.99.

(Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

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Ben Stiller's Bernie tribute

Cast member Ben Stiller, who gives voice to Alex, poses with his wife Christine Taylor at the premiere of "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" at the Mann Village theatre in Westwood, California October 26, 2008.[Agencies]

Ben Stiller has paid tribute to his late 'Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa' co-star Bernie Mac.

Ben - who reprises his role voicing Alex the lion in the animated sequel - says Bernie, who recorded his lines as Alex's father Zuba before his untimely passing in August aged 50, is the "core of the movie".

He said: "I would hear the scenes with Alex and Zuba cut together while we were doing it and I was always so inspired because he's so great in the movie and he adds so much to it. "He gives a warmth and humanity to the lion and the father son relationship is really the core of the movie. He's a great voice actor. It's really sad because I think he could have done a lot of these movies."

'Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa' also sees the return of Sacha Baron Cohen, Jada Pinkett Smith, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer and Cedric the Entertainer.

It was recently reported producers are planning a third film in the 'Madagascar...' franchise following the success of the original 2005 film and expected popularity of the sequel.


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Led Zeppelin looking to tour without Plant: report

LONDON (Reuters) - British rockers Led Zeppelin are looking at the possibility of touring and recording without frontman Robert Plant, who has resisted pressure to reunite with his former bandmates, the BBC reported.

The band, which sold an estimated 300 million albums and is considered one of the most influential in rock music, briefly regrouped for a one-off charity concert in London in December, 2007, leading to calls from fans for a full reunion tour.

Guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist/instrumentalist John Paul Jones are both understood to be keen to return to the stage, as is drummer Jason Bonham, the son of original member John who died in 1980, reportedly after a bout of heavy drinking.

But Plant, who has forged the most successful solo career of the surviving band members, has always appeared reluctant and last month issued a terse statement confirming his intentions. "Contrary to a spate of recent reports, Robert Plant will not be touring or recording with Led Zeppelin," he said.

Jones told the BBC's Radio Devon that the band had already tried out possible replacements for Plant.

"We want to do it. It's sounding great and we want to get on and get out there," he said at a guitar show in Exeter, southwest England.

"It's got to be right. There's no point in just finding another Robert. You could get that out of a tribute band, but we don't want to be our own tribute band," he added.

Jones said Led Zeppelin, which broke up in 1980, planned a tour and a new record.

Other big pop acts have re-formed with new performers brought in, most notably Queen which has been working with Paul Rodgers on lead vocals in recent years replacing Freddie Mercury who died in 1991.

(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)

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Movie : Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

Movie Info :

Title : Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
Genre : Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Release Date : November 07, 2008
MPAA Rating : PG (Rated PG for some mild crude humor).
Studio : DreamWorks Pictures
Starring: Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Sacha Baron Cohen and Cedric The Entertainer
Director : Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath
Producer : Mireille Soria, Mark Swift
Distributor: DreamWorks Distribution LLC, Paramount Pictures
Writer: Etan Cohen
Official Site : http://www.madagascar-themovie.com/index.html



Synopsis :

In the highly-anticipated sequel to “Madagascar,” Alex, Marty, Melman, Gloria, King Julien, Maurice and the penguins and the chimps find themselves marooned on the distant shores of Madagascar. In the face of this obstacle, the New Yorkers have hatched a plan so crazy it just might work. With military precision, the penguins have repaired an old crashed plane—sort of. Once aloft, this unlikely crew stays airborne just long enough to make it to the wildest place of all—the vast plains of Africa, where the members of our zoo-raised crew encounter species of their own kind for the very first time. Africa seems like a great place…but is it better than their Central Park home?


Movie Review :

By Kirk Honeycutt

The pleasant but far-from-pioneering crew of the cheerful 2005 DreamWorks animated film "Madagascar" reunite for "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" to similar results. Essentially this sequel has settled down into a sitcom: Each of its major zoo-raised animals has a comical issue that must get resolved before the credits roll. The film, like its predecessor, is aimed mostly at children and should score a direct hit.

The situation at the end of the first film was this: Alex the performing lion (Ben Stiller), Marty the wisecracking zebra (Chris Rock), Melman the sensitive giraffe (David Schwimmer) and Gloria the ghetto-fabulous hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith), all refugees from the Central Park Zoo, are stranded on the shores of Madagascar. The tough-guy penguins, who came along uninvited, have now rehabbed an old crashed airplane to fly back home. The plane gets as far as the central plains of Africa, where it again crashes.

The wreck fortuitously reunites Alex with his dad Zuba (the late Bernie Mac) and mom (Sherri Shepherd). This reunion sparks Alex's issue: His dad's rival, Makunga (Alec Baldwin), demands that the son perform the rites of passage to be allowed to stay in the pride. Misunderstanding the nature of this trial by fire, Alex performs the crowd-pleasing dance number from his zoo days, which results in his rival knocking the stuffing out of him. He therefore is banished from the pride because "real lions" don't dance.

Meanwhile, Marty discovers that all the zebras look, sound and act exactly like him -- or to be specific, like Chris Rock. How can his best pal Alex tell him apart from the herd? Well, Alex can't, as a matter of fact. Which leaves Marty very angry.

Gloria's hot-and-very-heavy flirtation with the watering hole's extra-large Romeo, Moto Moto (will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas), sends Melman into a tailspin of jealousy. For in an implausible case of inter-species attraction, the giraffe turns out to be madly in love with the hippo.

Other characters return from the original film including the party-hearty lemurs (Sacha Baron Cohen, Cedric the Entertainer and Andy Richter) and the vicious old lady (Elisa Gabrielli) with martial arts moves, as do the pop songs, ranging from Barry Manilow to Ennio Morricone, that put a goofy spin on all the action.


Cartoons can get away with being serviceable and skillful without much creativity since they have an endlessly renewing audience. "Mad 2" surfs along on such waves, entertaining youngsters while mildly amusing adults. And being somewhat forgettable has an upside: When "Mad 2" comes to DVD, it will seem new again.

Taken From : http://www.hollywoodreporter.com



Official Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa trailer HD
















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M. Night Shyamalan's "Devil" gets its due

By Gregg Goldstein

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - M. Night Shyamalan is making a deal with the "Devil."

The "Sixth Sense" director will produce the supernatural thriller "Devil," an independently financed project based on his idea. No plot details were revealed.

It will be directed by "Quarantine" duo John Erick Dowdle and Drew Dowdle from a script by Brian Nelson ("30 Days of Night"). The project will be the first feature Shyamalan has written or produced without directing.

"Devil" heads into production next year, aiming for a PG-13 rating. It will be the first under a three-film financing/production partnership with independent financier Media Rights Capital, dubbed the Night Chronicles. The subsequent two films, set to begin production in 2010 and 2011, respectively, will also be based on his original stories.

John Erick Dowdle recently directed "Quarantine," an adaptation of the Spanish horror hit "(Rec)" he co-scripted with brother Drew.

"This is a dream for me. I wanted to find filmmakers that inspire me and I found them," said Shyamalan, who will co-own the films' copyrights with MRC and shop them for distribution.

Shyamalan, who recently experienced recent critical lambasting for his $64.5 million-grossing supernatural thriller "The Happening," is now directing "The Last Airbender," a family fantasy which is set for a 2010 release through Paramount.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

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Princes William, Harry to attend James Bond launch

By Mike Collett-White

LONDON (Reuters) - Princes William and Harry are expected on the red carpet on Wednesday at the royal world premiere of the latest James Bond movie "Quantum of Solace," which sees Daniel Craig reprise the role of super spy 007.

The film is released in British cinemas on October 31 and hits theatres in the key U.S. market two weeks later on November 14.

After 40-year-old Craig wowed critics and audiences with his Bond debut in "Casino Royale" two years ago, "Quantum of Solace" is expected to eclipse its global box office take of $594 million.

Early reaction has been generally positive, although Bond producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli may have been less than pleased to read one senior British critic, the Sunday Times's Cosmo Landesman, conclude his review:

"Craig makes an attractive corpse, but Bond is dead."

Movie industry experts believe the popularity of Casino Royale, a lack of alternative Hollywood blockbusters between now and the end of the year and the lasting appeal of the 22-film franchise would make up for mixed reviews and recession fears.

Craig will lead the stars on the red carpet in London on Wednesday evening, where he will be joined by Ukrainian actress Olga Kurylenko, Bond regular Judi Dench and French actor Mathieu Amalric, the latest in a long line of Bond villains.

They will be joined by Prince William, second in line to the British throne, and his younger brother Harry at the charity gala event.

ARMED AND ANGRY

In Quantum of Solace Bond crosses Europe and South America to discover why the woman he loved betrayed him before she died.

He also battles to stop evil eco-terrorist Dominic Greene installing an exiled general in what is supposed to be Bolivia in exchange for land containing huge natural resources.

In a complex web of deceit and diplomacy, the secret agent falls foul both of his enemy and British and U.S. intelligence as his mission becomes intensely personal.

"They think he's gone off course and that he's a loose cannon and his emotions have taken over, and that is a bit more complicated in the story," Craig told Reuters in Los Angeles in an interview to promote the film.

For German-Swiss director Marc Forster, Bond is the biggest movie he has taken on to date. He has won acclaim for "Monster's Ball" in 2001 and "Finding Neverland," a biopic of Peter Pan author J.M. Barrie starring Johnny Depp.

(Editing by Paul Casciato)

(To read more about our entertainment news, visit our blog "Fan Fare" online at blogs.reuters.com/fanfare)

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Britney Spears' dad retains control of her affairs

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The father of Britney Spears will retain control over the once-troubled singer's personal and business affairs for an indefinite period, a Los Angeles judge ruled on Tuesday.

Jamie Spears and a Los Angeles lawyer were first granted temporary control of Spears' affairs in February after the pop princess was twice hospitalized for psychiatric evaluation.

The conservatorship previously was extended until December 31 but, in Tuesday's closed-court hearing, the judge made it permanent. Spears can request it to be lifted at a later date.

"The conservatorship is necessary and appropriate for the complexity of financial and business entities and her being susceptible to undue influence," said the judge, Reva Goetz, according to several media reports.

Since February, Spears, 26, has turned around her life, reaching a custody settlement with ex-husband Kevin Federline, releasing a hit single "Womanizer," working on a new album, winning three MTV Video Music Awards and preparing for an expected first world tour since 2004.

Celebrity website TMZ.com said Spears' lawyers suggested making the conservatorship permanent. Quoting unnamed sources close to Spears, TMZ said lawyers felt doing so would boost the singer's chances of regaining custody of sons Sean Preston, 3, and Jayden James, 2 in the future.

People magazine quoted Spears' lawyer as saying in an open courtroom that Spears "requested that I not object to the permanent conservatorship."

Spears, one of the best-selling artists of the last decade, has been on the mend this year after making headlines for much of 2006 and 2007 for shaving her head, going to a rehabilitation center, partying without underwear and wearing a pink wig.

Last week, Spears escaped a criminal conviction for driving without a California license in 2007 after a Los Angeles jury deadlocked 10-2 in favor of an acquittal. A guilty verdict would have given Spears a criminal record.

(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte and John O'Callaghan)

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Movie : Role Models

Movie Info :

Title: Role Models
Genres: Comedy and Drama
Release Date: November 7th, 2008 (wide)
MPAA Rating: R for crude and sexual content, strong language and nudity.
Starring: Seann William Scott, Paul Rudd, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Jane Lynch, Kerri Kenney-Silver
Directed by: David Wain
Produced by: Matthew Siegel, Dan Kolsrud, Andrew Z. Davis
Distributors: Universal Pictures Distribution
Production Co.: Stuber Productions, Relativity Media, WideAwake, Inc.
Studios: Universal Pictures, New Regency Productions
Produced in: United States
Cast: Paul Rudd, Sean William Scott, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Elizabeth Banks, Ken Jeong
Official Site: http://www.rolemodelsmovie.com/

Synopsis :

Danny (Paul Rudd) and Wheeler (Sean William Scott), having only narrowly avoided jail time, soon discover that after only one day with the kids, prison doesn‘t look half bad!

Surrounded by annoying do–gooders, Danny struggles with his every neurotic impulse to guide Augie (Christopher Mintz–Plasse) through the trials of becoming a man. Unfortunately, the guy just dumped by his girlfriend (Elizabeth Banks) has only sarcasm to offer a bashful 16–year–old obsessed with medieval role play.

Meanwhile, charming Wheeler tries to trade in an addiction to partying and women to assist a fifth–grader named Ronnie (Bobb‘e Thompson) and redirect his foul–mouthed ways. It would probably help if Ronnie‘s new mentor wasn‘t an overgrown adolescent whose idea of quality time includes keggers in Venice Beach.

Once the centre‘s ex–con director (Jane Lynch) gives them an ultimatum, Danny and Wheeler are forced to tailor their brand of immature wisdom to their charges. And if they can just make it through probation without getting thrown in jail, the world‘s worst role models will prove that, sometimes, it takes a village idiot to raise a child.

Movie Review :

by William Goss

Remember Broken Lizard's Beerfest? Whatever you thought of that 2006 comedy, it's difficult to dispute how incredibly astute the filmmakers were with rattling genre expectations in just a single scene. See, the American team's greatest beer guzzler, "Landfill", has passed away under shady circumstances, and right when everyone's ready to throw in the towel, in walks Landfill's identical twin brother, who they knew nothing about but who happens to have been told everything about each of them. Better yet, he's more than willing to even adopt Landfill's name, in an effort to bypass that whole awkward 'getting-to-know-you' stage.

It's every end-of-second-act "what do we do now, coach?" dilemma from an inspirational sports movie mercifully condensed to a couple of rapid-fire beats, and even if the rest of the film otherwise adheres to said sports movie formula, it's nice knowing that audience and actors alike were not going through the paces entirely unaware of how clichéd the entire narrative was.

Director/co-writer David Wain similarly mocked genre expectations to amusing effect with Wet Hot American Summer, which makes it all the more a pity that his first big studio project, Role Models, doesn't come up with anything equivalent to That Scene, and an equal pity that it does adhere to the most conventional arc of "kids helping man-boys grow up" material, though Wain and company do muster up enough laughs to make the familiar go down with relative ease.

Danny (Paul Rudd) has been hawking energy drinks to schools for about a decade, often accompanied by considerably coarser mascot Wheeler (Seann William Scott), and generally worn out by the routine. However, when a impulsive marriage proposal to longtime girlfriend Beth (a barely there Elizabeth Banks) backfires, the two guys subsequently manage to have a very bad day -- one bad enough to merit a court-ordered "Big Brothers" program that pairs the guys with one foul-mouthed pre-teen (Bobb'e J. Thompson) and one geeky teenager (Christopher Mintz-Plasse, a.k.a. the actor eternally known as McLovin') That or spend a month spent in jail.

Familiar faces are in no short supply, with Wet Hot American Summer co-star A.D. Miles, along with Wain's "The State" co-horts Kerri Kenney-Silver, Joe Lo Truglio and Ken Marino (sharing a writing credit here with Wain and Rudd) popping up and generally earning some chuckles, not to mention the never-unwelcome appearances of Ken Jeong as the king of the live-action role playing realm that our above-mentioned geek calls home and Upright Citizens Brigade's Matt Walsh as his most sycophantic liege.

If any of you can say that you're honestly surprised by where these characters end up once the credits roll, then chances are you haven't seen Life with Mikey, and even if that's somehow not the case, it's all what the campers in Wet Hot might call "well-worn territory." (To boot, Mintz-Plasse's caped nerd takes 'gay' as a compliment in the same way that that film's caped nerd took 'douchebag' as a compliment.) In spite of this, there's a lasting sarcastic rapport between Rudd and Scott right from the get-go that makes the typical plot developments easier to stomach, and although the humor skews toward the juvenile, seeing Rudd react to accidental innuendos or the nasty way in which program director Jane Lynch suggestively handles a bagel-dog merits more laughs than you might expect. (On the other hand, trotting out a young African-American kid and having him drop f-bombs at every turn is all but a comedic dead end, though not for lack of trying on Thompson's part.)

Sure, we get every bit the expected second-act conflict and third-act reconciliation, but at least when it comes to the emotional climax, both protagonists are adorned in '80s-rock attire and one can't help but strike the other in the groin. It's that admittedly slight blend of the immature and the absurd that only a cast like this can (barely) pull off for a feature-length outing, and even though these guys have already proven themselves capable of something far more subversive, the fact that they can prevent the same-old-same-old from being entirely laughless is itself a consolation that shouldn't go ignored.

Taken From : http://www.cinematical.com

Role Models - Official Theatrical Trailer - HD

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