Celebrity Gossip: November 2011

The Twilight Saga: The Breaking Dawn Part 1 (Movie Review)

The reason why the 'Twilight' series captured our imagination a few years ago was the originality of its idea and execution. Watching the penultimate film in the series, you will be stuck with a series of dejà vus. You won't have to rake your head hard to figure out where you had seen bits and pieces of "The Breaking Dawn" for it literally takes inspiration from and shamelessly copies the execution of almost every single TV soap-opera and their Indian avatar - the saas-bahu sagas.Isabella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward (Robert Pattinson) finally get married and Edward unwittingly gets Isabella pregnant. As the fetus grows rapidly, it threatens Bella's life. But she is unwilling to abort the baby despite the urging of everyone around. Afraid of the half-human, half-vampire baby growing inside Bella, the wolves plan to kill her even as the Cullen family and Jacob (Taylor Lautner), fight to save her.The only originality the film hold is in its combination of cliches of multiple genres. Thus you have an exotic woman in possession of an ancient wisdom (from the monster movie genre) calling Edward a monster. You have once again a jealous friend in Jacob who mouths cheesy lines (teenage romance genre) and you have a understanding and protective family speaking dialogues straight from soaps (family drama genre)...the list goes on.It even begins with 'the' teenage cinematic marriage sequence of the millennium. As the jealous best fried Jacob runs off in anger, the couple is married in a dream marriage that even Prince Charles and Diana could not have dreamt of. This and the honeymoon is slow and long, but has enough oomph for girls with romance in their eyes to lap up.There is no point commenting on the acting department which actually relies on the inability of its actors to act, and their abilities to look either pale and white, expressionless or perennially angry."The Breaking Dawn" is good only for the die-hard fans of the franchisee, or teenage girls with fairy tale romance lighting up their eyes or fans of Mills and Boons. Others beware of a headache.

Yoga, Potter are evil: Vatican exorcist

Lady Gaga wants balls or brains!

Bigg Boss's Sunny Leone is bisexual

Heidi Klum named 'Most Dangerous Celebrity' on the web

Heidi Klum has replaced Cameron Diaz as the most dangerous celebrity to search for on the Web, according to Internet security company McAfee. For the fifth year in a row, McAfee researched popular culture’s most famous people to reveal the riskiest celebrity athletes, musicians, politicians, comedians and Hollywood stars on the Web. The McAfee Most Dangerous Celebrities™ study found movie stars and models top the “most dangerous” list this year while singers and sports stars are among the safest.Cybercriminals often use the names of popular celebrities to lure people to sites that are actually laden with malicious software. Anyone looking for the latest videos or pictures could end up with a malware-ridden computer instead of just trendy content.Fans searching for “Heidi Klum” or “Heidi Klum and downloads,” “Heidi Klum and ‘free’ downloads,” “Heidi Klum and photos” and “Heidi Klum and videos” are at risk of running into online threats designed to steal personal information. Clicking on these risky sites and downloading files like photos, videos or screensavers exposes surfers or consumers to the risk of downloading the viruses and malware.McAfee research found that searching for the latest Heidi Klum pictures and downloads yields more than a 9% chance of landing on a website that has tested positive for online threats, such as spyware, adware, spam, phishing, viruses and other malware.The study uses McAfee SiteAdvisor software that provides ratings that indicate which sites are risky to search for celebrity names on the Web and calculate an overall risk percentage. The top 10 celebrities from this year’s study with the highest percentages of risk are:1. Heidi Klum – Klum, the former Victoria’s Secret model and current producer of “Project Runway” moved up from #10 on last year’s list to #1 today. Searching for Klum results in nearly a one in ten chance of landing on a risky site.2. Cameron Diaz – 2010’s Most Dangerous Celebrity fell to 2nd place, with searches resulting in slightly fewer risky sites this year. She has most recently been in the spotlight with her 2011 movies “Bad Teacher” and “The Green Hornet.” 3. Piers Morgan – A new addition to the top 10 list, Morgan also the most dangerous male celebrity. He is best known as the host of “Piers Morgan Tonight,” taking over for Larry King, a winner of the “Celebrity Apprentice,” and one of the judges on “America’s Got Talent.”4. Jessica Biel – 2009’s Most Dangerous Celebrity fell one more spot this year with searches resulting in fewer risky sites. Biel continues to be in the spotlight with her on-again, off-again relationship with Justin Timberlake, and appeared in “The A-Team” in June 2010. 5. Katherine Heigl – The former “Grey’s Anatomy” star moved into the top 10 for the first time this year. Heigl has appeared in recent movies such as “Killers” and “Life as We Know It.”6. Mila Kunis – The former star of “That 70s Show” makes her first showing in the top 10 list, bolstered by starring in movies such as “Black Swan” and “Friends with Benefits.”7. Anna Paquin – This “True Blood” star is as dangerous on the Web as she is on the screen. She moved up from #10 last year to #7 this year.8. Adriana Lima – Searching for downloads of this Brazilian beauty can direct users to red-ranked sites. Lima is best known for being a Victoria’s Secret Angel since 2000. Searching for Lima became slightly safer, moving her from #6 last year, to #8 this year.9. Scarlett Johansson – The former child star has gotten more dangerous as she’s grown up. Named in 2010, as “Babe of The Year” by GQ Magazine, Johansson most recently appeared in “Iron Man 2.”10. Emma Stone, Brad Pitt and Rachel McAdams – Pitt has been a mainstay of this list, appearing in the top 10 for the past four years. Stone and McAdams are new to the top ten. Stone, the star of last year’s “Easy A” has appeared in “The Help” and “Crazy Stupid Love” this year. McAdams has most recently appeared in “Morning Glory” and “Midnight in Paris.”

Demi Moore to 'punish' Ashton Kutcher

Lady Gaga's perfume to smell like 'An expensive hooker'

Kate Middleton's teeth deliberately unaligned

Dressed to Kill: Kangna to share Lady Gaga's darzi

Anarkali is different from Munni: Malaika Arora Khan

Malaika Arora Khan tells MiD DAY about her next item song and more in an exclusive during her touch-and-go visit to town yesterdayYour next item number is Anarkali Chali Disco for Sajid Khan's Housefull 2.I have collaborated with Farah Khan yet again. I dance with Akshay Kumar, John Abraham, Ritesh Deshmukh, Shreyas Talpade, Mithun Da and Boman Irani in the song.It was great fun as this is not the first time I'm working in this environment, which is a Sajid Khan film. I have been a part of all his films. I truly believe Farah, who has choreographed this number as well, is very talented and manages to do something different every time and bring out the best. So, I'm quite excited.The success of Munni Badnam Hui can be partially attributed to its risque lyrics. What are the lyrics of Anarkali like?They're not risque. It's a completely different song. Munni was very tongue-in cheek and had a North Indian feel to it. The reason I decided to do it is because it's very different from Munni. It's a hardcore disco song. I'm wearing club wear. We have finished shooting it in Mumbai. The film releases in May.What's keeping you busy right now?Right now what's keeping me really busy is pre production of Dabangg 2. We are in the process of finalising everything because we start early next year. What I am really enjoying is that I'm very hands on as a producer this time. The first time, I was merely a rubber stamp.Chitrangada Singh recently said that her she idolises you.Oh my god. I think that's really sweet. I know her and she's absolutely fantastic, beautiful and talented. And it's great to see mommies today are giving young girls a run for their money.It's flattering to hear someone admires you and great to see women post marriage and babies, out there, looking better than ever and not letting themselves go after marriage and children. That, for me, is more exciting.Designer Sanchita recently said in a fashion magazine that everything about you is flawless except that you don't experiment too much with your hair.(laughs) I shall definitely take that into consideration. I think I am very straight jacket when it comes to my hair and make up. I don't experiment too much with that. I like to reinvent myself every now and then though.Your New Year's Eve performance last year was the talk of the nation. Where are you performing this year?This time I'm not so sure. I haven't quite decided whether I'll be in Mumbai or travelling with my family.According to your D.O.B in a website, you will be 40 in the next two years. How are you so ageless?Not really. You are ageing me way before my time. They have my birth date and year wrong. I have another five years to go. As for being ageless, the secret is yoga. If you're happy on the inside, you're happy on the outside. Credit: Mid-Day.com

'Breaking Dawn' tops weekend box office

NEW YORK: Vampires feasted at the Thanksgiving weekend box office, bringing the newest "Twilight" movie its second win in a row, over a strong comeback for "The Muppets" and other family fare that filled theaters."The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn: Part 1" delivered an estimated $113.5 million around the globe from Friday through Sunday. The film ranked No. 1 for the second straight week at U.S. and Canadian theaters, where ticket sales hit $42 million for three days and $62.3 million over the five-day Thanksgiving holiday weekend.The film's total box-office take since its release reached $489.3 million globally."Breaking Dawn: Part 1" is the fourth movie in the "Twilight" series, one of Hollywood's most lucrative franchises. The movies are based on best-selling novels by Stephenie Meyer about a human-vampire-werewolf love triangle, a story that has generated legions of die-hard female fans.For the latest movie, "word of mouth is good. (Fans) are supporting the film," said Richie Fay, president of domestic distribution for independent studio Summit Entertainment, which backed the film.In second place, audiences welcomed the Muppets back to theaters for the first time in 12 years.New Disney movie "The Muppets," starring Jason Segel and Amy Adams alongside Kermit, Miss Piggy and their puppet friends, took in a strong $29.5 million at North American (U.S. and Canadian) theaters in three days. The five-day holiday weekend haul reached $42 million domestically. Two international markets added $1.6 million.Disney bought the rights to the Muppets in 2004, and the media, entertainment and consumer-products giant is eager to interest a new generation in the characters."It's hard to have anyone argue we didn't bring them back," said Dave Hollis, Disney's executive vice president for motion picture sales and distribution. The movie's performance "exceeded expectations," he said.The Muppets starred on a weekly television show in the 1970s and early 1980s plus a series of films, the last being 1999's "Muppets from Space."Critics loved the new Muppets movie, with 98 percent giving it a favorable review, according to aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences awarded an A rating on average, according to exit-polling firm CinemaScore. The movie cost about $45 million to produce.FAMILY FILMS COMPETEIn third place for the weekend, dancing penguin sequel "Happy Feet Two" earned $13.4 million over three days domestically during its second weekend in theaters and $18.4 million through five days.Rounding out the top five were two other new family movies that critics adored.Animated 3D movie "Arthur Christmas," which cost about $98 million to produce, pulled in $12.7 million at domestic theaters over three days and $17 million in five days to finish in fourth place. The movie explains how Santa delivers presents around the world in one night and has earned $22.3 million overseas since opening two weeks ago.Rory Bruer, president of worldwide distribution for Sony Pictures, said the film "opened about where we hoped it would," adding that he expected the Christmas theme would appeal throughout the holiday season."Hugo," a 3D family movie, ended the weekend in fifth place with $11.4 million over three days and $15.4 million over five days. The movie centers on an orphan living in a Paris train station in the 1930s.The film exceeded studio forecasts for its release in about 1,300 locations, far fewer than the 3,000-plus for the other widely released films, said Don Harris, president of domestic distribution for Paramount.In a small number of theaters, "My Week with Marilyn," starring Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe, opened with $1.8 million from 244 screens from Friday through Sunday. Critics have praised Williams' performance in the Weinstein Co. film and mentioned her as an Academy Award contender for the role.Walt Disney Co released "The Muppets." Privately held Summit Entertainment released "Breaking Dawn: Part 1." "Arthur Christmas" was distributed by Sony, and "Hugo" was released by Paramount, a unit of Viacom Inc. Time Warner unit Warner Bros. distributed "Happy Feet Two." (Reuters)

Desi Boyz (Movie Review)

Immortals (Movie Review)

Freida Pinto, I'm afraid, is turning into a bit of a running joke within the English film reviewing community, given her incredible luck of working with acclaimed Hollywood filmmakers and then delivering extremely forgettable performances.In Singh's Immortals, she gets the longest screen-time of her career as Phaedron, the virgin oracle who can predict the future as long as she remains 'undefiled' by man.Her best moment in the film, however, is completely unintentional. As she tends to the wounded peasant warrior Theseus (Cavill), it's clear that a sex scene is in the offing. Suddenly, within the blink of an eye, Pinto is underneath Cavill and talking about how she wants to be 'defiled' by him. Cut.Emotions, dialogue and logic go out the window, and a number of us at the press screening collapsed into a fit of giggles at this jarring transition. No credit to Pinto; full credit to the Indian Censor Board and its ridiculous policies. Singh, known for making visually stunning films like The Cell (2000) and The Fall (2006), helms this gorgeous looking disappointment (from the makers of 300, say the ads) which is let down by a wafer-thin storyline, poor characterisation and inconsistent acting. Set in ancient Greece, it revolves around the evil King Hyperion (Rourke, one of the few actors who can make sadism look awesome) and his search for the legendary Epirus bow, with which he plans to destroy all of humanity. This bow is the only weapon that can release the Titans, a mythical race of immortal beings that has been imprisoned by the Gods. Theseus, who has been unknowingly trained by the god king Zeus in mortal form (Hurt), is the chosen one to save humanity. There is a stunning sequence towards the end, where the Gods clash against the Titans, juxtaposed against a fierce hand-battle between Theseus and Hyperion. Singh's visual sensibilities come out all guns blazing here as body after body is poetically slashed open, and it is glorious to behold. After more than an hour of underwhelming battle scenes that aren't even a patch on 300, this scene is an admirable attempt at redemption.Except it can't, especially when it's that late into the movie and your hero is no King Leonidas. Cavill tries hard, but he has neither the screen presence of Gerard Butler, nor a line of memorable dialogue to deliver. The other actors range from bad (Pinto, Evans as young Zeus) to serviceable (Dorff as the thief Stavros). Rourke delivers the only really enjoyable performance here. Much of the movie is uninteresting, with a few set pieces proving to be of brief interest. Immortals looks gorgeous for the most part (barring a couple of sequences where the CGI looks less-than-impressive), but what it lacks is cohesiveness and style. Singh may reputedly be a visual genius, but he's no Zack Snyder.Credit: Mid-Day.com

Aishwarya gives birth to a baby-girl

Lady Gaga to adopt Indian kids‎?

J.Lo is sex mad, claims toyboy lover

Katrina is 'Chikni Chameli'

Reema weds Dr Shahab in Virginia

Rockstar ( Movie Review)

Jim Morrison once said, 'Film spectators are quiet vampires'... and in case you are planning to catch his self-confessed disciple Janardan ‘Rockstar’ Jakhar (Ranbir Kapoor) in action this weekend, you are in for a feast. In Imtiaz Ali’s most complex project till date, Ranbir has delivered a performance which hardly any of his competition can hope to emulate. From being a downtown North Dilli boy JJ to an angry and bitter Jordan, he makes up for all the holes you can pick in Imtiaz Ali’s plot with his brilliant histrionics. Yup, Ali’s Rockstar lacks depth... just like its protagonist Janardan’s life. With a hairdo and clothes that resemble the fashion of the early 1970s, Janardan, or JJ as he calls himself, is constantly trying to ape rockstar Jim Morrison and is constantly seeking a formula to become one. His confidants, college mates and college canteen owner Kattara Bhai tell him that to be a rockstar one needs to experience life altering love, heartbreak and self discovery. And his mind ticks till he spots Heer (Nargis Fakhri). Heer is the diva of the college, poised and polished very lady like. Their union seems unfeasible. After a few scenes, we learn that she is to be married off within 20 days and wants to experience all that is forbidden. The duo makes a list and bond over soft-porn cinema in a seedy Delhi theatre and country liquor but without emotions for each other. In due course, JJ is christened Jordan, which seems to be an apt name for a rockstar. As the mystery unfolds over layers of flashbacks, it takes the story to a designated plateau and halts. At stages, you feel you are watching a documentary, full of montages of memories lined up over good music. Be it Sufi music or the shehnai-guitar jugalbandi, A.R. Rahman's music touches your heart. Performances are superb. Nargis is a sure threat to Katrina Kaif. Shammi Kapoor sharing screen space with Ranbir touches a raw nerve. Over all, Ranbir carries away accolades for his histrionics. Coming from a director who has given wonderful hits like "Jab We Met" and "Love Aaj Kal", "Rockstar" fails to match the hype. It's evident that there is something amiss with the characterisation of this love story. During the entire transition it is not revealed how Jordan becomes a symbol of rage nor does it reveal the 'junoon' of Nargis' character. But even Imtiaz Ali's non-linear and jerky story telling can’t eclipse the rise of a Rockstar. With some beautiful wide angle shots, the film captures scenic Kashmir, Prague and Delhi in a way that has not been seen in the recent past. The editing too is crisp but the last half hour is agonisingly similar to Shahid Kapoor's "Mausam". It just goes on and on. The dialogues are refreshingly rustic and funny. An extra star in the rating for Ranbir's performance. He along with AR Rahman’s stellar music makes ‘Rockstar’ a great one-time watch.

Ladies vs Ricky Bahl trailer released

Aishwarya Rai checks in for delivery

Brad Pitt set to quit acting at 50

SYDNEY: Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt has revealed he plans to quit acting in three years, but the 47-year-old admitted he is not sure what he will do after ditching a career which made him a household name.During an interview with an Australian current affairs show in Tokyo to promote his latest movie "Moneyball", the American actor was asked how much longer he would like to "do your business for"."Three years," he said.When the reporter pressed him on what would happen then, he replied: "Hell if I know. I am really enjoying the producing side and development of stories and putting those pieces together."Pitt also revealed that he and partner Angelina Jolie were open to expanding their brood of six children, in the interview screened on Australia's "60 Minutes"."You know, I don't know that we're finished. I don't know yet," Pitt said, adding that he enjoyed the chaos of having children around despite the lack of sleep this entailed."I mean, because those late nights are so fun when one of them's up or those mornings when they get up and make pancakes or something. That's what it's about."Pitt said his family with Jolie had changed his career, and influenced the kinds of films he wanted to make."If I'm choosing a film now, I want it to be maybe less immature than things I have done in the past," he said."I'm very conscious, when they're adults I want it to mean something to them. I want them to think, 'Dad's alright'. It changes everything. Everything."The actor, who rose to prominence in 1991's "Thelma and Louise" and went on to star in "Ocean's Eleven" and "Fight Club", said he had not dealt well with fame in the past and was worried about media attention on his children."Sure I worry. It's the only thing I get hot about, I'm ready to fight about," he said."But on the other hand you know, it's a trade-off, like anything. "And we, these guys, I'm so happy for them, because they get to see the world. And their lives are so enriched by it. The privacy issues are something we're always battling."The actor, who has received critical acclaim for "Moneyball", said he was content with life."I think happiness is overrated, truthfully. I do. I think sometimes you're happy, sometimes you're not. There's too much pressure to be happy," he said."Satisfied, at peace, those would be more goals for myself." (AFP)

DiCaprio fails to beat 'Immortals' at box office

Reema Khan all set to tie knot on Nov 18

Shah Rukh Khan's Don 2 release in doldrums

Marilyn Monroe's never seen before photographs exhibited in New York

Sarah Ferguson's cleavage inspired Chris Martin's 1st song

Olsen twins beat Middletons for best-dressed sisters

Less is more for Kate Winslet

Taylor Swift named 'Entertainer of the Year'

Shakira honoured by father

Dannii Minogue gets honorary doctorate

Salma Hayek hates men 'talking' only to her breasts!

Porn star Sasha Grey refuses to withdraw from kids' school reading program

Wax statue biggest honour: Kareena

Hema Malini, Jaya Prada to be honoured

'Rockstar' earns Rs.11 crore plus on opening day

Choreographer Subal Sarkar dead

Beyonce is highest paid performer per minute

Rihanna teases new album, climbs iTunes chart

Veena offered Rs45m for appearance, marriage on Indian TV

Kim Kardashian may have to pay $2mn to keep engagement ring

'Miracle' serum boosts cleavage in just 4 weeks!

The Adventures of Tintin (Movie Review)

The sheer thrill of seeing one's favourite childhood comic being transposed on to a different medium (film) combined with technology and the best of hands from Hollywood surely sets one's expectations soaring. Steven Spielberg's "The Adventures of Tintin" features superb animation and the most refined use of motion capture technology thus far. This film attempts to bond three different Tintin stories -- most notably "The Secret of the Unicorn" (which is the film's subtitle) as well as "The Crab with the Golden Claws" and "Red Rackham's Treasure". What 'The Adventures of Tintin' boils down to is essentially an Indiana Jonesesque movie, and is very much in that vein; a rollicking tour around the globe, hunting for mysterious treasures with various complex outcomes and action set pieces. Set in the 1930s, Tintin's (Jamie Bell) adventure starts at a market place in Brussels. A few seconds after he purchases a miniature sailing ship he gets exorbitant offers to sell it off. He learns that the miniature is a replica of a 17th century sailing ship called the Unicorn.Apparently the Unicorn was navigated by Captain Haddock's (Andy Serkis) ancestor and was carrying huge treasures in its vaults when it was raided and sunk by the pirates. This ancestor was the only person who knew the exact location of the sunken treasures. So he left behind a clue on a parchment in the three identical miniatures of the Unicorn. Mild humour is infused in this film by the bumbling police officers Thompson and Thomson (Simon Pegg and Nick Frost) and Tintin's faithful canine Snowy.The treasure hunt takes Tintin along with Captain Haddock through exciting and visually delightful chases. Easily the most stunning and ambitious of these is a chase through the streets of a Moroccan port.They are chasing a mysterious man by the name of Sakharine (Daniel Craig) who is also trailing the Unicorn treasure. The sequence is about five minutes long and is conducted in one single, unbroken shot which, given the ludicrous ambition, complexity and pacing of the action, would have been simply impossible if the film had been live action.It also takes place in a photo-realistic environment, which gives the sequence a physicality that should be at odds with the exaggerated characters, but actually heightens the tension and excitement of the whole scene. Robert Zemeckis' design and creation of this film knocks anything he has attempted before. Zemeckis' earlier films, "Polar Express", "Beowulf" and "A Christmas Carol" failed to create that photo realistic version of humanity, because trying to motion capture and animate real people in that photo realistic way just makes humans look plastic and dead behind the eyes. Here there is a valid reason for this use. It could be done in no other way.The animation is attempting photo realism but still has that cartoonish quality. They have the Herge tropes, the funny noses and weird hairstyles. Captain Haddock still looks like Captain Haddock from the comics but it's Haddock as if he were a real life being.That technique, however, is incredibly effective, and never distracting.Unfortunately the sequences aren't the most inventive. Beyond its gorgeous visuals the film resembles a conflation of "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "Pirates of the Caribbean" with John Williams's music always on the point of bursting into the Indiana Jones triumphal march, the film has very little to offer and it is a great shame.Discussing Tintin's action sequences makes it sound like it's little more than a series of set pieces strung together around a wafer-thin plot. The script is, quite frankly, all over the place, chock full of ellipsis which can sometimes be very helpful to a film but here it is just lazy and sloppy. The talented trio, Joe Cornish, Steven Moffat (of Doctor Who fame) and Edgar Wright haven't done a very good job of covering the exposition. The plot depends heavily on too-perfect coincidences. It sets out to deliver thrills, spills and chills with as little extraneous stuff as possible, and at that it succeeds beautifully. Also, the dialogue delivery, I am sure would be an issue for the Indian audience.This grand scale adventure story directed by Spielberg is a clean family film pitched to a much younger audience, probably those below eight years, for the slapstick comedy and good natured fun that does not resort to crass, lowest common- denominator pandering.There are some very good parts in the film, but as a whole this film is disappointingly unremarkable.

Neha Dhupia to party with World-golf champion in Durban

Advertisement