June 12, 2008

When discussing about supernatural movies with twisting end, there is a name that is most likely to jolt out, that is M. Night Shyamalan. Throughout the past years, the Indian American writer/director has been well-praised as well as harshly criticized for his works with his thriller films. With "The Sixth Sense", he had received multiple Academy Award-nominations and through "Signs", he gained critical and financial success. However, his two last films, "The Village" and "Lady in the Water", have become a subject of ridicule. In summer of 2008, Shyamalan is back and this time, he brings another thrilling promise with "The Happening". Still, with "The Incredible Hulk" poses as its combatant, can his latest movie rise to the occasion?

If observed from what the critics have to say about "Happening", it seems that Shyamalan may be up for another disappointing result with most reviewers left unimpressed by it. Variety's film critic, Justin Chang, noted that the movie starring Mark Wahlberg is "a Shyamalan movie minus the bravado, the swagger". Explaining further that though Shyamalan has clawed back to his signature touches, it will still leave audience hoping for something better. Similarly demeaning, Kirk Honeycutt of Hollywood Reporter commented that the weak story and characters will cost the movie dearly. He then compared it to '50s science fiction film or a "The Twilight Zone" episode stating that it "feels padded". Additionally, Lisa Schwarzbaum of Entertainment Weekly slammed it stating that though the movie has its moment, it is "undermined by a pompous insistence on spiritual lessons of the tritest kind".

With his band Velvet Revolver still taking a break from the music scene, Slash is making a use of the spare time he has by working on a solo album. The guitarist revealed the news in a recent interview with Spinner.com stating that the new project will be his first. "It'll be my first solo record," Slash said.

On the interview the ex-Guns N' Roses member also hopes that he can finish the record quickly because as soon as Velvet managed to find a new singer, his band will also start their new album's work. "I'm working on it pretty aggressively right now while I have the time cause as soon as Velvet finds its singer, then it's going to be off the races with that," he said.

Added fuel to the persistent romance rumors, Chris Evans and Vida Guerra were snapped getting cozy outside a restaurant in Los Angeles on Tuesday, June 10. The rumored lovers said no single word though about their alleged love relationship.

Evans, an actor, is best known for his roles in such films, as "Fantastic Four," "Cellular" and "Not Another Teen Movie." He currently is filming the science fiction thriller "Push" which is slated for a February 6, 2009 release date. He, as well, will be featured in this year's Vanity Fair "Movies Rock" issue.

If "Sex and the City" provided a custom-designed pink carpet and "The Incredible Hulk" has a signature green carpet, what color represents "The Love Guru" best? Apparently, blue is the definite answer. Celebrating the first special screening, the latest comedy film from comedian Mike Myers rolled down its blue carpet for its L.A. premiere.

The special event was held on Wednesday, June 11, at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California. It was attended by most of its stars that include Myers, Justin Timberlake, Meagan Good, Romany Malco and Verne Troyer as well as many celebrity guests, among whom were Mariska Hargitay and Tila Tequila. Despite the merriness, the premiere missed out "Love Guru" leading lady Jessica Alba, who has just given birth to her baby daughter on June 7.

After a preview of it streamed in April, finally the full official music video for Nelly's "Stepped On My Js" has got premiered on BET on June 11. Just like the song the clip also features appearances from Jermaine Dupri and Ciara.

The clip, which is also being used as a campaign ad for Nike shoe product Air Jordan, starts with Nelly rapping in front of a car. The clip also features lots of basketball game scenes with all of the clip stars wearing the Air Jordan product.

Are waiting in anticipation for the arrival of their first child together, Clay Aiken and his baby's momma Jaymes Foster reportedly are planning to add more babies into their clan. Do not want to stop at one, the American Idol alum and the 50-year-old music producer, who also is his best friend, are committed to have at least two children.

Used advanced In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) therapy to conceive their first child, who is due to be delivered August later this year, the pair have already frozen eggs and sperm so they can have a second baby next year, In Touch Weekly claimed. "Jaymes is due in August, so she'd like to conceive again next March," an insider told the publication. "That way, she would give birth in December 2009."

Horror movie lovers prepare to be spooked. The horror thriller movie from French renowned horror director Alexandre Aja, "Mirrors", has given out opportunity to those brave enough to get a glimpse into the Korean remake through its first teaser trailer let out by the 20th Century Fox.

Focusing its story on the evil mirror, the teaser displays how wicked the mirror is as it claims its victims one by one. Like many horror movies, the video footage begins with a hair-rising music tone. The first scene capturing the scene shows a woman walking slowly to a room. When she opens the door, her son is sitting in front of a mirror reflecting his image. But as the boy shifts his sitting, his reflection does not go along with him. Then, the suspense builds up slowly but surely.

50 Cent is giving a special treat for his fans that are planning buy his upcoming game "50 Cent: Blood on the Sand". According to MTV, the rapper is installing 19 exclusive tracks for his new game working with his rap group G-Unit.

That news was confirmed by the game's producer himself, Aaron Blean, who revealed it during the demo for Blood on the Sand. Beside confirming 50 and Unit's involvement, Blean also stated that Swizz Beatz will also contribute some songs for the game. "He'd provided us with over an hour's worth of score already," Blean said.

On Tuesday, June 11, Jonas Brothers celebrated the premiere of their new made-for-TV musical, "Camp Rock", which is developed by Disney Channel. The three-piece band strutted down the Ziegfeld Theater in New York City accompanied by 'Bonus Jonas' who is none other than their youngest brother Frankie, and a number of the TV movie's cast.

The boys - Kevin, Nick, and Joe - all wore suits and pointy shoes to the event. Others who were also seen in attendance include Demi Lovato who plays the main character in the movie as Mitchie Torres, actor Stephen Baldwin, and several other supporting cast such as Anna Maria Perez de Tagle, Jasmine Richards, Meaghan Jette Martin and Giovanni Spina.

Back in late May, an international teaser trailer of drama mystery "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" have leaked out. At the time, though it gives out first look into the Brad Pitt-starrer movie, not many people get the true idea of the film due to its Spanish language. However, the brand new teaser trailer will definitely provide viewers with the background story.

Containing exact same footages as the international teaser, this compilation of clips acts to be the English version of the former teaser. The teaser opens with a shot of a clock with a background explanation from the titular character himself saying, "My Name is Benjamin Button and I was born under unusual circumstances. While everybody else was aging, I was getting younger...all alone."

Within only one day after it was protested by many people Ashanti and her label have pulled the bloody promo that was attached on her website. The reason for the rapid action reportedly was not only triggered by various protests on June 10, but also because there is a threat that there will be more protest to come.

The controversial website page called TheWayThatILoveYou.com that was previously attached on Ashanti's official website has now been removed and changed into a promo page site for her "The Declaration" album. Previously, the controversial attachment showed a fake murder news from UCN (Universal Crime Network) and also a special feature that allows people to send a fake murder threat email to their friends.

The memoir meets its release date, finally. The tell-all book which is written by Britney Spears' mother Lynne Spears about raising the pop superstar and her younger sister Jamie Lynn Spears will be released September later this year, the book's publisher Thomas Nelson Inc. confirmed to People.

"When Jamie Lynn got pregnant, it was put on hold," a representative for the publishing company told People. "Lynne never stopped working on it because she wants to express her love for her children and tell their stories through a mother's eyes."

Before fans get over the first trailer of "Star Wars: The Clone Wars", a brand new trailer of the CGI animated "Star Wars" movie has been revealed. The second trailer exposes the darker tone of the movie with tons of never before seen footages compiled within.

The new video footage provides viewer with an in-depth understanding about what the movie is all about. It also displays great imageries, such as the wide shot of R2, C3PO and Anakin walking with the dual sunset over the desert.

Christopher Ciccone, the brother of acclaimed pop singer Madonna, is writing a tell-all book about his sister. Publisher Simon & Schuster announced Wednesday, June 11 the book is slated to be released on July 15.

"Ciccone's extraordinary memoir is based on his life and 47 years of growing up with and working with his sister - the most famous woman in the world," the publishing house said in a statement. Simon & Schuster reportedly will put out a-first 350,000 copies of the memoir, which title is "Life With My Sister."

Few days earlier, director Louis Leterrier hinted that moviegoers who will go to see the much awaited superhero flick "The Incredible Hulk" may get a treat by possibly seeing Captain America himself in the movie. However, those who get the chance to watch "Hulk" early screening claimed that the beloved hero is nowhere to be seen. Hence, question whether Leterrier spoke of the truth is raised.

In his defense, the sole director of "The Transporter 2" told Collider that Captain America is most definitely making a cameo appearance in the Universal Pictures's action fantasy film starring Edward Norton and Liv Tyler. Still, at the time, he refused to specify when and where exactly the superhero will be seen. "It's an Easter egg," insisted the French director. "It's not like oh, it's Captain America and it changes everything. It's still a Hulk movie, but it's really Captain America and it's there, you'll see. It's the real deal. You have to look for it."

A new and interesting collaboration is being done by Akon as he is being tapped by famous composer and philanthropist Peter Buffet to do some projects together. The pair announced on June 11, that they are starting a collaboration in music and also social activities by launching a new social action and resource website called IsThereSomethingICanDo.com.

Meanwhile, their music project have also started by the release of a remix song titled "Anything". The single was actually Peter's track from his 2007 album "Staring At The Sun" but it is being retouched by adding some vocals from Akon on it. This remix song has also been made available for download at the social website.

Won Best Actress at last year Emmy Awards, Katherine Heigl quits Emmy race, much to everyone's shock. The TV and movie actress has publicly pulled out her name from the annual awards' contenders list, put the blame on the writers of her hit TV show "Grey's Anatomy" for her withdrawal.

Has stated that she didn't seek a nomination because "Grey's Anatomy" failed to deliver the goods for an award-worthy performance, Heigl explained to the Los Angeles Times' Tom O'Neil for his blog Gold Derby, "I did not feel that I was given the material this season to warrant an Emmy nomination and in an effort to maintain the integrity of the academy organization, I withdrew my name from contention." She furthermore added, "In addition, I did not want to potentially take away an opportunity from an actress who was given such materials."

It looks like Lil Wayne's new LP will live up to its premise as one of the highly anticipated records this year as its first day sales reached the jackpot. According to Nielsen Soundscan, on its first day of release, Wayne's "Tha Carter III" has been sold about 423,000 copies.

This result would make Wayne's LP, grabbing the #1 seat on next week Billboard chart, especially as according to Billboard, a source from the rapper's album project believes that "Tha Carter III" could sale around 850,000-950,000 in its full week. If that happens than not only will the new album top the Billboard 200 but it will also beat Mariah Carey's "E=MC²" to become the biggest selling album this year.

Fans of Will Eisner's comic book series about a masked vigilante fighting crime known simply as "The Spirit" have been given the chance to get a glimpse to the movie adaptation through the release of its teaser trailer. They have been given thorough explanation about the modification has to be done for the film by Frank Miller, the filmmaker himself. And since April 21, they have been offered a chance to win a trip to Comic Con San Diego to see exclusive content of "Spirit". Now, the contest is nearing to its final closing hour.

The entry period of the "I'm on My Way" sweepstakes that has become a part of the action movie promotional effort will ends in less than two days on June 13, 2008 at 11:59 P.M. ET. Hence, for those who still wish to take participation in the contest should grab "The Spirit" trailer widget, "The Spidget" which is posted below or on the movie's official Widget page as soon as possible.

Is young, famous, and rich, Miley Cyrus has become one of the young stars who makes it into Forbes' annual Power List. Thanks to her 70-date Best of Both Worlds concert tour, which was a sold out, as well as her millions of CDs, book deal, and movie projects that she could secure a spot in the publication's annual list of Celebrity 100, which ranks celebrities on money and fame, being ranked at No. 35.

Teen crooners the Jonas Brothers are also considered powerful, make the list at No. 89. The brothers, age 15 to 20, are praised to have taken in $9 million from touring, plus another $3 million from CD sales, merchandise and television deals.

Usher's new LP "Here I Stand" fails to maintain its chart topping position on the Billboard 200 chart this week, despite its premise after a high sale on its first week. The new record's sale decreases this week making its position slipped two places to #3 on the chart.

Replacing Usher is the latest outing from hard rock band Disturbed, "Indestructible," which become the rockers' third LP that managed to top the albums chart. Following the rock act at #2 is the 28th edition of compilation set "Now That's What I Call Music...".

Though fans and action movie lovers ought to wait until summer of 2009 to see "Terminator Salvation", they don't have to spend a long time wondering how the latest "Terminator" movie will look like. A month into the production of the McG-directed film, it is announced that the teaser trailer to the film will be coming out in July 2008.

The teaser will be introduced to the public starting July 18 with its attachment to the highly anticipated superhero flick "The Dark Knight". The information about the outing of the teaser has been made public via MTV. Reporting from the Licensing Expo in New York, the entertainment network also noted that apart from the teaser, the particular date will be marked also with the release of initial one sheet of "Terminator Salvation".

Timbaland is a married man, already. While rumors have been spreading like wildfire throughout Internet gossip websites that the music mogul is about to marry his publicist girlfriend Monique Idlett, next Thursday, June 19 in Aruba, new confirmation has just surfaced that the couple already tied the knot, secretly, in Virginia on Tuesday, June 10.

A family pastor wed the couple in a rather casual style, with the bride and groom wore sweatsuits for the ceremony. And as it has been claimed by US Weekly, Timbaland and Idlett will wed again in a formal ceremony on the Caribbean island of Aruba on June 22.