Static Cinema

CONCLUSION of Movie "The Avengers"

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Mon, 07 May 2012 13:57:00 +0000

So how does The Avengers stack up on the Whedon scale? Remarkably. Whedon is known for creating richly detailed worlds for his genre productions, and while this is not one of his original ideas, The Avengers property had enough alignments to his sensibilities that it thoroughly feels like a Whedon work. There's familiar faces, strong feminist themes, self-sacrificing cowboys, a pronounced love of the genre, his trademark banter, a plot driven by incredible compelling and well-formed characters, and the gut-wrenching death of…someone. The Avengers would actually make a great argument in favor of auteur theory in this regard. And without TV execs meddling, this is among the most uncompromising of his works.

Of course, the most uncompromised is undoubtedly his self-produced web-series Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. Nonetheless, The Avengers appears to be his most defining work, as it is full of enthusiasm, humor, action and above all hope. Because one element of Whedon I've saved until the end is his faith in humanity, his hope in it that pervades his efforts. Even in the darkest circumstances his projects have set forth, there's a thread of hope and heroism winning out. And as long as the Avengers assemble, there'll be hope….and hopefully more Whedon-created Marvel movies.

CHARACTERS KILLED in "The Avengers"

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Mon, 07 May 2012 13:56:00 +0000

And last but not least, the one Whedonism that often draws the most ire: his tendency to kill off a beloved character. [MAJOR SPOILER AHEAD]. Be it Buffy's Tara, Firefly's Wash, Dr. Horrible's Penny, or the world at large, Whedon loves to hammer home a story's stakes by killing a character his fans cling to. It's not generally fridging, where a character is introduced ONLY to be the emotional crux for the hero's journey, but unfortunately it seems to be in The Avengers where poor Agent Coulson is killed after 3 1/2 movies in the service of the Marvel franchise. He does go down in a blaze of glory, but even he recognizes with his last words that his death will bring the feuding Avengers together, as they now have someone to avenge.

It's a common comic book ploy, so it's hard to fault Whedon for it. At least they didn't do it the newly introduced female agent, Maria Hill, which would have fallen more into the lame fridging trope. Instead, they killed a character we've known since 2008's Iron Man, but who here took on a new significance. Geeking out over Captain America, proudly explaining about his vintage trading cards, Agent Phil Coulson revealed who he really is: us. In Whedon's boldest kill yet, he didn't kill the moral compass, or the comic relief, he killed the mirror of fanboys/girls everywhere, and in doing so hammers home the point: The Avengers will reward us for our devotion. We'll miss you, Clark Gregg. But that was one hell of a way to go out.

LOW BROW HELD HIGH of "The Avengers"

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Mon, 07 May 2012 13:55:00 +0000

Part of the reason Whedon wins so much love from fanboys and fangirls is that he not only shows a clear passion for the genres he takes on, but also earns them a new respect through his signature witty, rapid-fire banter and masterfully crafted character-driven drama. The praise his projects garner often spurs new interest in formerly sneered at genres, causing spirited and rewarding revivals. He's done it with vampire-fantasy, sci-fi, horror and with now superhero movies. The Avengers is drawing widespread praise, huge box office projections, and so may well revitalize the superhero genre that seemed on its way out because of too many ill-conceived adaptations.

Comic books are notoriously hard to adapt with their complicated backstories, and so their movie are sometimes laid low by unwieldy and convoluted plots (Green Lantern). However, Whedon keeps everything in The Avengers rolling by focusing on the characters. Even when I didn't follow a particular lingo-heavy line or backstory reference—or couldn't hear it over the roar of the enthralled audience—I never felt lost in the journey because of how firmly established the characters and their motivations are. It made The Avengers accessible in a way few thought possible, and in doing so opened the glory of this assembly up to a wide and wildly appreciative audience.

COWBOYS of "The Avengers"

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Mon, 07 May 2012 13:54:00 +0000

Not always literal cowboys, but Whedon favors the cowboy archetype: a figure who is outside of society in some way, but has a sense of honor that draws he/she into the fray to defend its people. Buffy, Angel, the entirety of Serenity's crew, even his proposed Batman all fall into this category of outsider-hero, and of course so do the Avengers, who are summarily dismissed in the film as "a handful of freaks." They are. Each and every one of them is a freak. They are also Earth's mightiest heroes.

Another key element of this archetype is self-sacrifice. Hell, Buffy died twice to save the day, and Mal risked dying alone in the dark of space to save his crew. So how do the Avengers stack up? [SPOILERS AHEAD] Well, Captain America's major beef with Tony Stark is that he's a smart-ass who never really puts himself at risk, "Big man in a suit of armor. Take that away, what are you?" seethes Cap. And he's right. The old-fashioned Captain America takes life-threatening leaps without blinking, while Tony has a suit that can get him out of every jam…until it can't. In the film's final climactic scene, Manhattan is about to be annihilated by a hastily released nuke, and all that can save us is a big man in a suit of armor, who must fly a suicide mission to get it out of our world. It's a remarkable sequence that plays out like the best of Whedon finales

FEMINISM of "The Avengers"

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Mon, 07 May 2012 13:53:00 +0000

Whedon is probably the male director most commonly counted as a feminist. Of course Buffy has a lot to do with this, but so does his long list of female characters who kick plenty of ass. From Buffy and Willow to Zoe, River and Echo (to name a few), Whedon creates three-dimensional heroines who can save the day without the requisite skimpy outfits typically designated to their gender by genre productions. Comic books are typically the worst offenders on this score; here female figures are usually super sexualized and frequently fridged.

Thankfully, Whedon rebuffs this precedent with Natasha "The Black Widow" Romanoff and Agent Maria Hill. [SPOILERS AHEAD] Both are agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and while their bodysuits are alluringly curve hugging, they are above all functional and pretty conservative by comic hero standards. But the real Whedonism stamp is not so much on their costumes as on their actions. In the film's incredible opening action sequence, Hill goes head to head with Hawkeye in a car chase scene that shows her as a fearless soldier and stunningly savvy stunt driver. Later, when Black Widow takes on Hawkeye in breathtaking hand-to-hand combat, she gains the upper hand despite being a serious disadvantage. Like Hill in the beginning, she is not trying to kill her opponent, just incapacitate him. Alternately, Hawkeye is throwing all he's got at each, and does not manage to kill—or even maim—either. On top of that, Black Widow actually uses men's—well bad men's—tendency to underestimate her sex against them, as she shows in her Loki interrogation. Here Loki assumes (to his detriment) Romanoff has a tender heart that pines for her missing brother-in-arms, and even attacks for her sex, bellowing that she is a, "mewling quim." The real irony here is that though Loki underestimates Romanoff because she is female, the most powerful force in the universe—the tesseract or cosmic cube—is feminine, as Dr. Selvig (Stellan Skarsgard), who is closest to its "truth" repeatedly calls the tesseract a "she." The message is clear: sexism is downright evil and stupid.

CROSS CASTING of Avangers

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Mon, 07 May 2012 13:52:00 +0000

The most eye-catching of Whedon conventions is his preference for re-purposing his actors into his various works. It's a web of the Whedonverse that rewards fans with a keen eye. With The Avengers you'd think Whedon would have little opportunity to invoke this casting trope, as much of the key cast was set down long before he was attached to the franchise. However, I've found five performers with prior Whedon connections.

The most noticeable is Chris Hemsworth, who portrays Thor in The Avengers but first worked with Whedon on The Cabin in the Woods wherein he played the brawny alpha male Curt. Yet he is not the only Avenger with Whedon ties. Did you know Jeremy Renner had a one-off role on Angel? It's true! He played Penn in the Somnambulist episode. Now the other three performers have less eye-catching roles, and for the sake of a kind of Where's Waldo excitement, I won't tell you where, but I will tell you who. Alexis Denisof, whose played Wesley Wyndam-Price in the Buffyverse, Senator Daniel Perrin in Dollhouse and Benedick in Whedon's upcoming Much Ado About Nothing, makes an appearance as The Other. Enver Gjokaj, best known as Victor on Dollhouse pops up as a NYC cop, and Growing Pains's Chrissy Seaver, Ashley Johnson, who had several small roles onDollhouse and will co-star in Much Ado can actually be spotted in the trailer.

Kate Upton Lights Up Internet with ‘Cat Daddy’ Video

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Wed, 02 May 2012 15:29:00 +0000

Two videos of Kate Upton are making the rounds online.

One features her in a barely-there bikini doing the “Cat Daddy,” a dance that requires her to vigorously thrust her body this way and that. The other is a 2-minute long commmercial for Skullcandy headphones in which she follows a couple of NBA players to work and asks them annoying questions while they shoot hoops.

Guess which one is more popular?

Upton’s “Cat Daddy” video, directed by the notoriously raunchy photographer Terry Richardson, was so provocative that YouTube took it down, claiming it violates their policy on nudity or sexual content. (It’s still on Vimeo, where Richardson has a channel.) Dancing and bikinis are nothing new to Upton.

She became famous after a video of her doing the “Dougie” dance at an L.A. Clippers game went viral, and she appeared on the cover of this year’s Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. But apparently the combination of her two talents is too much for the Interwebs to handle.

Upton takes a crack at comedy in the Skullcandy ad, called “Take a Supermodel to Work.” ”Did you watch ‘Space Jam?’” she asks Oklahoma City stars Kevin Durant and James Harden. They ignore her until they visit her place of work, where she’s wearing, you guessed it, a bikini.

Jessica Simpson gives birth in time for Mother's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Wed, 02 May 2012 15:26:00 +0000

For the last few months, anyone paying attention has heard all about Jessica Simpson's maternity wardrobe, baby shower, pregnancy fitness routine, etc. Now she's on her way back to regular clothes. Simpson gave birth to a baby girl on Tuesday. I wonder if the next step might involve a wedding to fiancé Eric Johnson? Which would require a trousseau, of course! That's the happy couple pictured above, at an event last November.

Skullcandy has come out with a video in which NBA players James Harden and Kevin Durant "Take a Supermodel to Work." The model in question is Kate Upton, of Sports Illustrated swimsuit fame. She reciprocates by taking them to work with her. This is labeled "Episode 1" so it looks as if we're in for a series.

Wait a minute. A Kardashian is stepping away from the reality cameras? A little bit. Khloe Kardashian says she's put "Khloe and Lamar" -- the series featuring herself and husband Lamar Odom -- on hold while the NBA player rebuilds his currently stalled career. "I'm a modern girl, but you should put your husband first," she tells People. Oh, but they will still make appearances on E!'s "Keeping Up With the Kardashians."

Naomi Campbell has been named as one of three coaches for the Oxygen network's upcoming model competition program, "The Face."

More than 1,200 guests turned out Monday night for the annual gala to benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation founded by the late Evelyn Lauder in 1994. The gala, at the Waldorf Astoria in Manhattan, attracted guests including Elizabeth Hurley, Michael Kors, Donna Karan, Vera Wang, Tommy Hilfiger and Erin Heatherton.

A Mother's Worst Nightmare: Celebrity Dropouts

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 09:02:00 +0000

Celebrity Dropouts - Paris Hilton

It seems like Paris Hilton treats school like boyfriends - a new one every year or so. The heiress graced the halls of the Dwight School - a private international school located on Manhattan's Upper West Side for just 2 years after dropping out.

She landed there after spending time at the Canterbury boarding school for one year. Her next attempts at education came courtesy of the Los Angeles jail system.

Selena Gomez Pauses Music Career

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 08:59:00 +0000

The 19-year-old star is planning to take a break from pop and concentrate on her acting career for the immediate future.

Selena released her third album, 'When the Sun Goes Down', in June and enjoyed success with her movie 'Monte Carlo' and at the moment the big screen appeals to her more.

Gomez attending "The 6th Annual Hollywood Style Awards"

She told Hollywoodlife.com: "I'm very happy and pleased with how well the record did and I'm so thankful that radio and everybody is still being so supportive.

"Next year I'll be starting to do more acting, I'll be doing two films in the beginning and then I'll probably go back to singing. I'll balance them."

Selena Gomez Picture

The former 'Wizards of Waverly Place’ star also insisted fame has not affected her life, despite her rapid success and high-profile relationship with Justin Bieber, 17.

She added: "Nothing’s changed for me, I mean, yeah, you get recognised occasionally, but I’m not scared of that. People assume it’s awful.”

Now that the Disney series has come to an end, Selena says she is up for a new challenge but although she acts and sings she doesn't believe she will ever try her hand at directing.

She said: "I don’t have dreams anymore; I just want to do things that are different and challenging and have fun with it.”

Is Scarlett Johansson Dating with British Rocker

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 08:57:00 +0000

The 'We Bought A Zoo' actress met the Tribes guitarist when she was shooting in London recently and pals say the pair are smitten and determined to make their long distance relationship work.

A source told the Sunday Mirror: "They met in London recently. Scarlett was shooting the film 'Under The Skin' in the UK and they were introduced at a club night in town.

Scarlett Johansson

"They got on like a house on fire and Scarlett was into his band's music. There was an instant connection. They've been seeing each other for a good few weeks. Dan's proper happy about it- and what guy wouldn't be? He already thinks the world of Scarlett.

"Dan thinks she's an amazing girl. They both have incredibly busy lives but are going to see where things go. Dan's band Tribes is only just taking off and Scarlett has a lot of work on. So who knows?"

Although Scarlett split with husband Ryan Reynolds in December 2010, she admitted her union with the 'Green Lantern' actor - who is currently dating Blake Lively - was the "best thing" she ever did.

Celebrity cosmetic surgery: Scarlett Johansson

She has previously said: "It was the best thing I ever did. I'm a big believer in instinct. Getting married was the right thing to do because it was natural. It grew out of romance and love and a desire to have a future with somebody, and I was very fortunate that I married somebody who turned out to be the person I thought he would be."

America Ferrera Enjoys Xmas Movie Repeats

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 08:54:00 +0000

The 'Ugly Betty’ star loves to get into the festive spirit with 'Love Actually', which is set around the Yule Tide period, but this year thinks she will try something a little bit different with the classic 'Singin’ in The Rain’.

She said: “I have to say I watch 'Love Actually’ every Christmas season but I already have it in my stocking, so 'Singin' In The Rain’ would be fun. I have a real nostalgia for Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds and for old classics and classic musicals.”

America is not the only Hollywood star planning to watch some DVDs over Christmas.

Emma Watson is hoping to spend some time during her vacation re-watching the extras on the DVD of 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2' – in which she plays witch Hermione Granger for the final time.

She said: "I have already seen the 'Extras’ on 'The Deathly Hallows - Part 2’, it’s pretty amazing. There’s a behind-the-scenes documentary; I think it will give fans a real insight into what it was actually like making the film as well as, you know, you actually get to see the film again.”

Actress Gemma Arterton shares similar viewing tastes to America and revealed she will be snuggling up on the couch to watch classics 'High Society’ and 'Singin' in The Rain’.

She said: “I always like the old ones like 'High Society’ but I chose 'Singin' in The Rain’ because I love the Got to Dance sequence. That whole bit’s amazing.”

America Ferrera Long, Straight, Brunette Half Updo

Meanwhile, Robin Williams will be settling down to one of his own films when he wants to relax over the holidays. He plans to watch animated movie 'Happy Feet', in which he voices the characters Ramon and Lovelace.

Sofia Vergara Talks Kim Kardashian Bum Comparison

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 08:53:00 +0000

The 39-year-old beauty – who plays Gloria Delgado-Pritchett in TV sitcom 'Modern Family' – cannot believe she still features in magazine polls rating the world's most beautiful women because she is approaching 40, and she thinks the 31-year-old reality TV star wouldn't be pleased to be named alongside her.

sofia vergara

She exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "It's fantastic to be near the top of the beautiful women polls – I'm nearly 40. I wonder if they're crazy sometimes when people compare my ass with Kim Kardashian's. She's 10 years younger than me, she should be upset! I shouldn't be competing in these lists."

The Columbian beauty still regards herself as "sexy" as she approaches the landmark age – which she will hit in June 2012 – despite admitting she has a "few extra pounds" compared to her fellow famous stunners.

She previously explained: "I have big boobs, I have a voluptuous figure, and I like to laugh a lot, this is who I am.

"But it's great to still be thought of as sexy, especially now that I'm nearly 40. I don't want to look super skinny and I think since I'm nearly 40 now, I'm glad I have a few extra pounds because otherwise your face has more lines."

Kourtney Kardashian Can't Tolerate Many Foods While Pregnant

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 08:50:00 +0000

The 32-year-old star - who has two-year-old son Mason with long-term boyfriend Scott Disick - admits she is having trouble with her diet since announcing she was expecting her second child, and is having to eat anything she can "tolerate".

She told USMagazine.com: "I'm just eating whatever I can. Whatever I can tolerate. I think this pregnancy there is less I can tolerate."

It is currently too early to tell whether Mason's sibling will be a boy or a girl but she admits she would maybe like to know the sex.

Asked whether she wants to find out what it will be, she said: "I think so."

Kourtney Kardashian

Kourtney's sister Kendall recently admitted she was hoping the baby would be a girl.

She said: "I want [Kourtney] to have a girl. It would be so cute because when they're older, Mason could be like the protective big brother. And I feel like Kourtney could have fun with a girl-dress her up in little tutus and everything."

Evan Rachel Wood Exploded At the age of 18

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 08:49:00 +0000

The 'Ides of March' actress - who began acting when she was just four years old - says her strict upbringing made her want to rebel once she hit her late teens but she is now ready to "settle down" following her period of recklessness.

Rachel Wood, Bell rekindle romance.

She said: "The funny thing is I was a really good kid because I was raised extremely strict and I was working a lot. My mother wanted to be really, really careful because in this business it's east to go off the deep end, but I think that worked against her because when I turned 18, I had been so sheltered for so long that I just exploded.

Evan Rachel Wood's Loves & Hookups All People

"I am glad I did because it teaches you a lot about yourself. Now, I've got it out of my system and I am ready to settle down."

Evan admits she only learns from her own "experiences" but the 24-year-old beauty believes her desire for independence is normal.

She said: "I have to experience something to learn from it. I won't just take people's word for something. I can't have somebody telling me, 'Don't do this, do that.'

"I feel like every child is supposed to go through a period where you have to separate yourself from your parents and push away."

Paris Hilton Loves British Men

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 08:46:00 +0000

The US socialite – who is currently single - loves spending time in London and is particularly a fan of UK males as they are "such gentlemen".

“I love the vibe, the people, the accents... British guys are really different to the guys in America – they’re all such gentlemen and they’re far more mature. It’s just a different mindset. I’ve met a lot of nice British guys, I think the way that your parents raise you is a lot different, because you’re so polite and sweet. British guys are really hot.”

Does Lindsay Lohan Have A Crush On Paris Hilton?

Among the British guys Paris admires most are Princes William and Harry and she enjoyed getting the chance to spend time with them the last time she worked in the UK.

She told the new issue of Britain's FHM magazine: “They’re both very nice boys. When I was in London shooting a show for a few months, we went out a couple of times and I found them to be just such nice gentlemen.”

home celebrity directory Paris Hilton

The 30-year-old star also discussed her growing business empire, and despite already having 17 different product lines, she is planning further expansion.

She said: “I’m involved in my products every step of the way. My fragrances are doing really well at the moment. They’ve produced more than $1.3 billion in revenue since 2005.

Paris Hilton

“I have 35 stores and 17 product lines. And then there’s my racing team, my 14 fragrances and my new project – the Paris Hilton Beach Club chain. The first one is opening in the Philippines soon. It’s going to have nightclubs, restaurants, bars, gyms, everything really.”

Dakota Fanning says that I forget that I'm only 17

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 08:44:00 +0000

The teenage actress – who began her career when she was just six years old – has already experienced so much in her life, she is sometimes shocked when she remembers how young she still is.

She said: "I feel like I've lived a long time, but then I realise, 'Oh, I'm actually only 17."

Dakota Fanning Picture

Despite her phenomenal success, the actress went to a "completely normal high school" and has remained so down-to-earth, her friends forget about her stardom.

She told the new issue of Britain's Elle magazine: "My friends are like, 'Oh wow, I just forget that you do movies.' "

Fanning played Cassie Holmes

Dakota is currently single but insists she is not interested in casual relationships and thinks it is "nice" to be "courted" by guys.

She said: "I feel like people, a lot of girls, take things with guys very loosely, and I'm not like that. I mean, my parents have known each other since second grade and they've been married 22 years. I don't need to be courted but sometimes it's nice, a little bit of that."

The 'Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn: Part 1' star hates to think of herself as "famous" and insists she doesn't do anything outside of her career to attract attention.

She said: "I just want to be an actress. I don't really do anything attention-grabbing.

"Famous just sounds so pretentious. Who am I to call myself that word?"

The Kardashians Plan To Launch Own Magazine

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 08:42:00 +0000

The reality TV family are said to be close to signing a deal with American Media Inc. – who currently own numerous publications, including Star, National Enquirer and Shape – for their own print media outlet, which would feature heavy involvement from sisters Kim, Khloe and Kourtney and their mother Kris Jenner, though an independent editor would be appointed.

The Kardashians had complimented the Obamas

A source told the New York Post newspaper: “This is a Kardashian idea. They have been reaching out to several media outlets.”

The plan has come in for some criticism, with rival publishers arguing it can give the family further control over their media coverage.

They look really different in this one too! They've all gotten super glam

One unnamed competitor said: "Now the Kardashians can spin their own stories in print."

It is believed the magazine could launch this spring.

The Kardashian family are not the first reality TV stars to plan their own magazine.

The Kardashian sisters are all designing for Bebe

Last September, British former glamour model Katie Price launched a self-penned one-off publication called Katie,

Announcing the venture, she said: "Everyone has an opinion of me whether good or bad. But this is a chance to get my opinions across! I'm the chief editor, writer and picture editor so I've written all the features and chosen the photos myself.

"Over the years I've been interviewed in the press hundreds of times and usually get asked the same boring questions - most of the time about plastic surgery and men, yawn - so I'm excited to show a side of me that you don't usually get a chance to see in the mags."

Halle Berry Engaged to Olivier Martinez

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 08:39:00 +0000

The 45-year-old actress - who was previously married to baseball player David Justice for four years until 1997 and tied the knot with Eric Benet in 2001 before separating two years later - is set to tie the knot with her 'Dark Tide' co-star after the 46-year-old Frenchman proposed with an emerald-and-diamond ring.

Halle-Berry Name:Maria Halle Berry

A source told the new issue of Us Weekly magazine: "Halle had given up on being married, but she trusts Olivier. He makes her feel safe. He's a keeper!"

The actress agreed to marry Olivier - who she has been dating since autumn 2010 - because she was impressed with how he treats Nahla, her three-year-old daughter with former boyfriend Gabriel Aubry.

Halle Berry unable to block

A source said: "Halle is very serious about this marriage. She's ready. Olivier has become her rock.

"Halle feels Olivier has made a connection and a commitment to her and her daughter."

cold-hearted paramour with his performance

The couple would love to have a child together and friends say they will consider adoption if they can't conceive naturally.

The insider told America's Star newspaper: "Halle would love to have more kids, but she knows it might be difficult because of her age and the fact that she's diabetic.

Olivier Martinez Picture

"If they can't conceive, they'd definitely consider adoption."

The pair are expected to tie the knot in California early this summer and Halle is said to be happier than ever.

The source said: "Deciding to marry again is huge for Halle. But friends have never seen her this happy and fulfilled."

Forbes list of Hollywood's Top Earning On-Screen Couples

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 08:36:00 +0000

1. Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, $4.2 billion, 'Harry Potter'

2. Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, $ 2.5 billion, 'Twilight'

To some it might seem redundant for a young

3. Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox, $1.5 billion, 'Transformers'

shia labeouf and megan fox

4. Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow, $1.2 billion, 'Iron Man'

Robert Downey Jr. speaks about Irish blood in his veins

5. Shia LaBeouf and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, 'Transformers: Dark of the Moon'

Shia LaBeouf & Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

6. Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz $1 billion, 'Pirates of the Caribbean'

And this week she became the first to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk

7. Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley $963 million, 'Pirates of the Caribbean'

Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom Slash Rupert Friend

8. Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst, $890 million, 'Spider-Man'

Tobey Maguire · Willem Dafoe

9. Leonardo DiCaprio and Marion Cotillard, $825 million, 'Inception'

"Inception" premiere in Paris at the Gaumont Champs Elysees

10. Sarah Jessica Parker and Chris Noth, $703 million, 'Sex in the City'

Look for Carrie and Big on an upcoming cover of Vogue Magazine

Emma Watson and Rupert Grint Are Hollywood's Top Earning

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 08:26:00 +0000

The pair – who played Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley in the wizard franchise – topped the list compiled by Forbes after banking $4.2 billion between them at the global box office in four movies in the series in the last five years.

'Twilight' actors Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart – who are dating each other in real life – came second after they picked up $2.5 billion from their portrayals of vampire Edward Cullen and human Bella Swan respectively in the saga.

Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox earned $1.5 billion after they starred as onscreen lovers Sam Witwicky and Mikaela Banes in 'Transformers' and 'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen', which narrowly beat the actor's onscreen romance with Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in 'Transformers: Dark of the Moon', which pulled in $1.1 billion.

Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow's portrayals of Tony Stark and Pepper Potts in the 'Iron Man' films saw them claim fourth with $1.2 billion.

Among the other stars who made up the list were Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz, who earned $1 billion for 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides', ahead of Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley's $963 million for their romance in the first three movies of the series.

Katy Perry Thanks Fans For Support After Split

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 08:23:00 +0000

The 'Firework' hitmaker – who broke up with the actor on December 30, 2011 when he filed for divorce - took to her twitter account after a two-week break to pay tribute to her supporters and reassure them she has a "happy heart" again.

She tweeted yesterday (08.01.12): "I am so grateful for all the love and support I've had from people around the world. You guys have made my heart happy again."

The pop star – whose last twitter entry was on December 27 – also insisted she is the only person who speaks for herself after her evangelical mother and father spoke about the split last week.

She tweeted: "Concerning the gossip, I want to be clear that NO ONE speaks for me. Not a blog, magazine, "close sources" or my family."

Last week, Katy's parents Christian pastors Keith and Mary Hudson spoke about the pair's break up for the first time from the pulpit of their church.

Mary said: "I'm sure that Katy's trending on the Internet was to get you here to church tonight.

"I mean all over the world, who knows how God is bringing them in? The most important thing is you are here and God wants to put the fire in you in 2012."

Since filing for divorce, Russell has been residing in the UK, while Katy has been staying with her grandmother in Santa Barbara.

Lego Man in Space

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 15:12:00 +0000

Two teens from Toronto successfully launched a Lego figure into near space -- and launched a storm of interest on the Web.

Mathew Ho and Asad Muhammad, 17-year-old classmates at Agincourt Collegiate Institute, took four months, many Saturdays, and $400 to carry a Lego figurine and four cameras miles above the earth, a project that the two did for fun, not for class.

"We didn't really believe we could do it until we did," Ho told the Toronto Star. You can see the video they made, using the stunning photos of the Lego man 78,000 feet off the ground, here.

The video of the Lego man in near space has gone viral, with 570,000 views and counting. Searches on Yahoo! for "lego man in space" have soared 325% in just one day.

The high school students, both seniors, were inspired by a video of a similar project undertaken by students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The DIY contraption included a GPS locator so the students could track the weather balloon (a professional-grade one they purchased online) once it landed. Using a website that calculates a weather balloon's landing position based on coordinates and variables like wind speed, the two waited to launch the object until the timing was right for a Canadian landing.

The video shows the two-inch high LEGO man holding a Canadian flag flying high above Earth and the clouds, until the tilt of the earth's axis can be seen. And then the balloon pops, sending the Lego guy back to the ground in a mere 32 minutes.

About Red Trails and Kate Beckinsale ,Ewan McGregor, Channing Tatum, and Michael Fassbender.,

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 15:09:00 +0000

This week the movie "Red Tails" flies into first place with Yahoo! users. Searches on the George Lucas-produced film about the African-American Tuskegee fighter pilots of World War II rose 148% in the last week. A third of the lookups are ages 30-44, and expect to see more men than women at this action flick starring Terrence Howard and Ne-Yo.

Kate Beckinsale can sure pull in a crowd. The beautiful actress again takes on the role of the vampire fighter Selene in "Underworld Awakening," opening this week. The sci-fi adventure in 3-D buzzed up the search box 23% in the last 7 days, drawing in men in their 20s to this horror tale. In this fourth installment, Selene escapes imprisonment to find that humans are waging all-out war on the immortal Vampire and Lycan clans.

Finally, the thriller "Haywire" is packing a punch with Yahoo! users, with about a 15% bump in searches from mostly men, ages 30-35. Gina Carano, the former mixed martial arts fighter, stars as a covert agent who is double-crossed. The action-packed movie directed by Steven Soderbergh also features acting heavy-weight actors Ewan McGregor, Channing Tatum, and Michael Fassbender.

Demi Moore's Treatment and Troubled Times

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 15:06:00 +0000

Demi Moore is seeking treatment for exhaustion and health issues. The news of the star's health concerns adds to a troubled time for the actress. TMZ confirmed that Moore was taken to a hospital after paramedics responded to a 911 call placed from her home.

A rep for the actress told People, "Because of the stresses in her life right now, Demi has chosen to seek professional assistance to treat her exhaustion and improve her overall health. She looks forward to getting well and is grateful for the support of her family and friends." It seems that ex-Ashton Kutcher is not part of that group: He has been catching headlines in Brazil, where he is doing a fashion shoot and partying with supermodels.

The 49-year-old, who had been busy with a directing stint for Lifetime and a part in the indie flick "Margin Call," decided to pull out of the biopic "Lovelace," in which she had a small role as feminist Gloria Steinem.

Moore had fans worried months ago when she showed up on the red carpet looking dramatically thinner than her usual toned and trimmed self.

The cover model for the February issue of Bazaar admitted to the magazine that she had lost an unhealthy amount of weight, which she chalked up to age. She said she is "now experiencing my body as extremely thin -- thin in a way that I never imagined somebody would be saying to me, 'You're too thin, and you don't look good.'"

In November, the news broke that she and her husband, "Two and a Half Men" star Ashton Kutcher, had decided to end their six-year marriage, after scandalous reports that the actor, 15 years her junior, had been cheating.