STARZ released the final trailer for the upcoming season of Spartacus: Vengeance which will premiere on January 27, 2012 at 10pm ET.
The Plot:
On the heels of the bloody escape from the House of Batiatus that concluded Spartacus: Blood and Sand, the gladiator rebellion continues and begins to strike fear into the heart of the Roman Republic in Spartacus: Vengeance. Gaius Claudius Glaber and his Roman troops are sent to Capua to crush the growing band of freed slaves that Spartacus leads before it can inflict further damage. Spartacus is presented the choice of satisfying his personal need for vengeance against the man that condemned his wife to slavery and eventual death, or making the larger sacrifices necessary to keep his budding army from breaking apart. Containing all of the blood-soaked action, exotic sexuality, and villainy and heroism that has come to distinguish the series, the tale of Spartacus resumes in epic fashion.
Matt Damon and Charles on the set of 'We Bought a Zoo' (Photo: Business Wire)
The Make-A-Wish Foundation revealed three of their young participants were treated to a day of working as actors on the set of We Bought a Zoo. Marlen, 16, from San Francisco, Charles, 12, from Markham, Illinois, and Joshua, 12, from New Caney, Texas reportedly had a great time on the set and were given their own personal trailer along with hair, makeup, and wardrobe support. The three Make-A-Wish kids were able to take part in multiple scenes, reports the charitable organization, and had their pictures taken with the film’s stars Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson, and director Cameron Crowe.
“The opportunity to be actors in the filming of a major motion picture was a dream come true for these wish kids and we hope just the starting point of long and illustrious Hollywood careers,” stated David A. Williams, president and CEO of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America. “We invite filmgoers to join us in watching the movie and looking for whether they see our wish kids in any of the scenes.”
The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Marlen has a life-threatening autoimmune disorder, Charles has Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and Joshua has acute lymphatic leukemia.
Source: Make-A-Wish Foundation – December 21, 2011
Scars on 45 just announced the dates for their first U.S. headline tour. The British quintet will kick off their debut headline tour on January 25, 2012 in San Francisco before finishing up in San Diego on February 23rd.
Anya Marina will support Scars on 45, who were just named VH1’s “You Oughta Know” artist for January 2012, on most of their tour dates.
Scars on 45 North American Tour 2012
*w/ Special Guest Anya Marina
JANUARY
25 San Francisco, CA – Café du Nord
27 Portland, OR – Doug Fir Lounge*
28 Boise, ID – Neurolux*
29 Hadley, ID – Sun Valley Brewery*
31 Denver, CO – The Soiled Dove Underground*
FEBRUARY
2 Minneapolis, MN – The Varsity Theater*
3 Chicago, IL – Schubas Tavern*
7 New York, NY – Joe’s Pub*
8 Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall*
11 Charlottesville, VA – The Southern*
11 Annapolis, MD – Ram’s Head On Stage – Matinee Show*
21 Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour*
23 San Diego, CA – Anthology
More on Scars on 45 [Courtesy of Chop Shop/Atlantic]:
Scars on 45 spent their early days together in a small studio space in Bradford, writing and recording a series of songs that brilliantly blended insistent melodies, uplifting energy, and enchanting co-ed vocals courtesy of singers Danny Bemrose and Aimee Driver. After a number of tracks were featured on such TV series as The Cleaner and CSI: New York, Scars on 45 were personally signed to Chop Shop Records by label founder Alexandra Patsavas, famed music supervisor for such films and TV shows as Twilight, Gossip Girl, and Grey’s Anatomy.
Scars on 45’s acclaimed Chop Shop/Atlantic debut EP, “GIVE ME SOMETHING,” was released in January 2011 and quickly proved a sensation with its title track receiving Top 5 airplay at Triple A radio outlets nationwide (peaking at #3 and placing the band among such like-minded artists as Adele, Coldplay, and Atlantic’s own Death Cab for Cutie). “Give Me Something” remains a popular favorite, currently standing tall at #3 on Amazon.com’s “Best Songs of 2011 So Far” listing.
Having spent much of the past year on the road — including multiple radio-sponsored events and music festivals such as Austin, Texas’ world-famous South by Southwest — Scars on 45 is now slated to unveil its much-anticipated full-length debut album in early 2012.
Scars on 45 is made up of Danny Bemrose (vocals/guitar), Aimee Driver (vocals), David “Nova” Nowakowski (keyboards), Stuart Nichols (bass), and Chris Durling (drums).
Columbia Records and Nickelodeon just announced they’ll be releasing the iCARLY – iSoundtrack II – Music From And Inspired By The Hit TV Show on January 24, 2012. The upcoming release features music from Miranda Cosgrove as well as iCarly-inspired tracks by Katy Perry, Ke$ha and Taio Cruz.
Dr. Luke (P!nk, Avril Lavigne) and Miranda Cosgrove executive produced the album which will feature two new, original Miranda Cosgrove songs, “Million Dollars” and “All Kinds Of Wrong,” written by Max Martin (Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys).
iCARLY – iSoundtrack II – Music From And Inspired By The Hit TV Show Track List:
1. “Dancing Crazy” – Miranda Cosgrove
2. “Million Dollars” – Miranda Cosgrove
3. “Coming Home” – iCarly Cast
4. “Generation Love” – Jennette McCurdy
5. “Dynamite” (Radio Edit) – Taio Cruz
6. “All Kinds Of Wrong” – Miranda Cosgrove
7. “That’s Not My Name” – The Ting Tings
8. “Hot N Cold” – Katy Perry
9. “Blow” – Ke$ha
10. “Shakespeare” (Acoustic Mix) – Miranda Cosgrove
11. “I Will” – Leona Lewis
12. “I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You” (Album Version) – Black Kids
13. “Leave It All To Me” (Theme from iCarly) – Miranda Cosgrove featuring Drake Bell
More on iCarly [Courtesy of Columbia Records/Nickelodeon]:
iCarly ranks as Nickelodeon’s number-one show with K6-11 and T9-14. Currently in season four of the series, the network will premiere the following brand-new episodes next week:
— “iBloop 2: Electric Bloopaloo” — Wednesday, Dec. 28 at 7 p.m. (ET/PT):
Christopher Cane, the actor who plays Rex on Victorious, talks to the iCarly gang about their acting and bloopers.
— “iStill Psycho” — Saturday, Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. (ET/PT):
Nickelodeon celebrates New Year’s Eve with a special hour-long episode. After receiving word that Nora Dershlit is going to be released from jail, the iCarly kids set out to try and keep their old captor behind bars. Things take a turn for the worse after Nora and her parents capture the gang. Freddie finds a way to get a message to his mother, but will Mrs. Benson be able to come to their rescue before it’s too late?
Source: Columbia Records/Nickelodeon – December 20, 2011
“The model ship conceals a clue to one of the greatest mysteries of all time.” That’s the young truth-seeking reporter Tintin (Jamie Bell) who has, along with his loyal dog Snowy, just discovered his new model ship might hold the key to an ancient treasure in the performance capture film The Adventures of Tintin.
Ever since he bought the model ship at the town market, Tintin has been pursued by a dangerous man named Ivanovich Sakharine (Daniel Craig) determined to unlock the mystery for himself and eliminate anyone who gets in his way. Believing Tintin has a vital clue, Sakharine kidnaps the young man and locks him in a cage on an old cargo ship headed to Morocco.
With help from Snowy – who snuck aboard the ship and is extremely resourceful in saving his master from certain doom – Tintin joins forces with the salty, drunk Captain Haddock (Andy Serkis) and together the three escape the clutches of Sakharine, and head out to try to find the final resting place of a shipwreck called The Unicorn, believing the ship just might hold the key to an ancient fortune.
The Adventures of Tintin is an animated action/adventure that tries to be in the same thrilling league as the Indiana Jones films but fails miserably. The film lacks any real humor or original action scenes. It’s all been done much better before.
The performance capture talents do their best to bring the characters to life, but there’s little they can do with the stale, cardboard, one-dimensional writing and character development in the script. There is no heart or passion to these heroes and villains, just the mindless, loud, and disengaging action sequences that pile up onto each other.
Another big problem with the film is the convoluted, all-over-the-map plot which adults will have a hard time following let alone children who this movie is supposed to be made for.
The 3D motion capture is completely wasted and unnecessary in the movie. Not once does it make it seem like the audience is sailing along with the characters or dodging bullets. The animated characters have that empty, expressionless look that detracts rather than enhances the viewing experience.
Flat, muddled, and overly busy, The Adventures of Tintin is an underwhelming, disappointing, and empty film that should be missed, especially when there are much better animated films for families to see on the big screen right now (including Arthur Christmas and Happy Feet Two).
GRADE: C-
The Adventures of Tintin hits theaters on December 21, 2011 and is rated PG for adventure action violence, some drunkenness, and brief smoking.
Sitting down to write this review, one thing is abundantly clear. No matter what I write, it will not be as good as the stream-of-consciousness splattering that Mission: Impossible 3 received.
However, before even thinking of going to the theaters to see Tom Cruise run and climb in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, it’s important to note that one need only have seen numero tres in order to know what’s going on. The first film has no bearing on things, and John Woo’s slow-motion touches in #2 seem to be something the producers want audiences to forget altogether. But the characters in the third installment do factor into things here, so there’s that to consider.
As for the successfulness of Ghost Protocol, it ticks most of the boxes one would expect from a summer blockbuster. Wait, they’re releasing this at Christmas? No competition from other action films then, huh? Whatever, the point is that if you go into the film with expectations as low as you would some popcorn muncher in July, you’ll do fine.
The plot this time around deals with a madman (Michael Nyqvist) intent on starting global thermonuclear war but having no access to the W.O.P.R. must instead get his hands on nuclear launch codes and a communications satellite. In the course of things, our heroes are disavowed and must do it all without getting apprehended by the Russians who believe they’re the bad guys. It’s all very matter-of-fact and predictable, but one doesn’t see films like this for originality or surprises.
There are some excellent set pieces and stunts, even though a few of them rival Twister and Ghost Ship for believability. One of the final action scenes could have been trimmed (how slippery can a briefcase be?) and Cruise once again scales a giant thing; this time in the form of Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world – so all you climbers get excited (or not as the case may be). In other words, this is a Mission: Impossible film with Tom Cruise.
To round out his team, the eye candy comes from Paula Patton. She’s feels less genuine in the ass-kicking department than Mi3‘s Maggie Q, but in one scene wears a green dress that may necessitate napkins to wipe up the drool from male audience members, so that’s a push. Simon Pegg returns as the plucky comic relief, and even gets to use a gun. Most important to the future of the franchise is the addition of Jeremy Renner. He’s been tapped to take over, or at least do all the heavy lifting, once Cruise has had enough running and climbing.
And with that in mind, if you’ve seen the trailer and like what you saw, enjoy your 133 minutes in a theater (yes, some editing would have been appreciated). Director Brad Bird, best known for his work at Pixar, transitioned over well enough to live-action and if you live near an IMAX theater (REAL IMAX, not just a slightly larger screen with the appropriate dimensions), then this is worth seeing in the format. Of course, there are some scenes where the dialogue is cheesy and terrible, but you get what you expect out of Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, and if you don’t expect much, you’ll have a good time.
GRADE: C+
Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol hits theaters in wide release on December 21, 2011 and is rated PG-13 for sequences of intense action and violence.
Will you be sitting home watching TV on New Year’s Eve? If so, you might want to check out NBC’s New Year’s Eve with Carson Daly. The holiday special’s just added a handful of new performers, including super-popular three-time Grammy nominee Blake Shelton.
Also signed up to help say goodbye to 2011 and hello to 2012 are Drake, Jessie J, Cee Lo Green, Smash‘s Megan Hilty, The Roots, and 15-time Grammy winner Tony Bennett. Jimmy Fallon will be doing a “special comedy performance” by the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center, and Brian Williams will do a review of 2011’s music.
“There is no better place to be in the world on New Year’s Eve than in Times Square,” stated Daly in the press release announcing the New Year’s Eve special’s list of performers. “I look forward to this night all year—to ring in the New Year with millions of people across the country— it’s a blast!”
The show will originate in Times Square in New York City and be broadcast from 10-11pm ET and 11:30pm-12:30am. Daly will also live tweet the event from @carsonjdaly using the hashtag #NBCNYE.
More on Drake [Courtesy of NBC]:
Released in November 2011, Drake’s second studio album “Take Care” debuted atop the Billboard Top 200 chart at #1 and was the biggest first-week SoundScan tally of Drake’s career, with over 630,000 units sold. The eagerly anticipated album was the third-highest-selling debut of 2011 — clocking in behind Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” (1.1 million sold) and label president and mentor Lil Wayne’s “Tha Carter IV” (964,000) – in which Drake also sang. “Take Care” arrived to a chorus of acclaim from critics and consumers alike with Rolling Stone raving that Drake “seamlessly blends those genres (pop, R&B, rap) in fluid, rich tracks,” and the New York Times anointed Drake as “hip-hop’s current center of gravity.”
More on Jessie J [Courtesy of NBC]:
Since winning the acclaimed BBC Sound Polls of 2010 and Brits’ Critics Choice for 2011, Jessie J has racked up 19 global #1 hits, selling over two million albums and five million singles worldwide. Her Lava/Universal Republic debut album, “Who You Are,” showcases the skills of a gifted lyricist while highlighting an unforgettable journey. In the last few years, Jessie J has penned songs for such stars as Chris Brown, and she has also written the smash hit record, “Party in the USA,” sung and performed by Miley Cyrus.
More on Blake Shelton [Courtesy of NBC]:
Shelton is the voice of country music. He is CMA’s Male Vocalist of the Year for the second consecutive year, has three Grammy Award nominations, including a nod for Country Album for “Red River Blue,” which debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top Current Albums chart and Top Country Albums chart with the Associated Press calling the album “the best album of his career,” and Shelton holds the record for the fastest-selling digital platinum single for a male country solo artist for his multi-week, #1 smash “Honey Bee.”
More on Megan Hilty [Courtesy of NBC]:
Hilty stars in NBC’s musical drama “Smash,” which premieres February 6 at 10-11 p.m. (ET). Hilty made her Broadway debut as Glinda in “Wicked” and went on to perform the role in both the national tour and in Los Angeles. After receiving rave reviews for her portrayal of Doralee Rhodes in Broadway’s “9 to 5: The Musical,” Hilty was honored with nominations for Lead Actress in a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards, Outer Critics Circle Awards, the Drama League Awards and L.A. Stage Alliance Ovation Awards.
More on The Roots [Courtesy of NBC]:
Formed in 1987 in Philadelphia, the legendary Roots have become one of the best-known and most-respected hip-hop acts in the business and have won four Grammys. In 2009, The Roots, named one of the greatest live bands around by both Spin and Rolling Stone, became the official house band on NBC’s “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” where they currently perform every Monday through Friday. The Roots’ latest musical creation is a conceptually based album titled “undun” (Island Def Jam), which was recently released on December 6.
More on Tony Bennett [Courtesy of NBC]:
Bennett, who released one of 2011’s most celebrated CDs, “Duets II,” turned 85 this August and made music history when “Duets II” debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top 200 Album charts, making him the oldest artist to ever achieve the top spot. Nominated for three Grammy Awards, “Duets II” was released to critical acclaim and features Bennett performing his greatest hits with a roster of today’s most successful artists, including Lady Gaga, Michael Buble, Carrie Underwood, John Mayer and the late Amy Winehouse, whose stunning duet of “Body and Soul” with Tony was her last recording.
Bennett, a New York native, began his career as a singing waiter in Queens but, as The New York Times once observed of the 15-time Grammy winner, he “has not just bridged the generation gap, he had demolished it.”
Laura Dern’s Enlightened will see the light of season 2 on HBO, but the news isn’t so bright for a couple of the network’s other shows. Hung, Bored to Death, and How to Make it in America will not be brought back for the 2012 season.
None of the cancellations are shocking as all three shows have been leaking viewers.
HBO will be filling the void with the debut of Luck starring Dustin Hoffman, as well as Angry Boys and a new comedy from Aaron Sorkin.
The first trailer for the first of the two Hobbit movies is here! Martin Freeman stars as Bilbo Baggins in the epic tale The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey directed by Peter Jackson and hitting theaters on December 14, 2012.
The Plot: The Hobbit follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, which was long ago conquered by the dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakensheild. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers.
Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever…Gollum.
Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum’s ‘precious’ ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities … A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.
It’s a Funny or Die production so you know it’s not safe for work…but for those of you not worried about who catches you watching an R-rated (for language) video, here’s a very funny drunken reading of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” with appearances by Ryan Gosling, Eva Mendes, and Jim Carrey as Santa Claus.
STARZ released the final trailer for the upcoming season of Spartacus: Vengeance which will premiere on January 27, 2012 at 10pm ET.
