Bonnie Jill Laflin Bridget Moynahan Britney Spears Brittany Daniel Brittany Lee
zaterdag 31 maart 2012
Olympian and Mom Kerri Walsh Is the iVillage Woman of the Week
The 33-year-old beach volleyball star is proving that you can be as great after kids as before, and is this week's iVillage Woman of the Week
VFX Company Image Engine Opens New Vancouver Facility
Etan Vlessing The Canadian visual effects studio is looking to build the city's senior talent pool to better compete against the U.S., the UK and New Zealand in securing Hollywood movie work.
Brittany Daniel Brittany Lee Brittany Murphy Brittany Snow Brittny Gastineau
Japan Eyes the Global Market
Gavin J. Blair With its population shrinking and its domestic entertainment sector contracting, Japanese content creators are looking to expand internationally ? but will it work?
Daniella Alonso Danneel Harris Deanna Russo Denise Richards Desiree Dymond
'Game Of Thrones' Season Two: The Reviews Are In!
Critics are raving about new season, with one reviewer describing HBO fantasy series as 'spiritual heir' to 'The Sopranos.'
By Josh Wigler
Carice Van Houten as Melisandre in "Game of Thrones"
Photo: HBO
Winter is behind us in real life, but in the brutal realm of Westeros, it's just days away.
When "Game of Thrones" returns Sunday for its second season, the days of Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell will be behind us, with the reign of Tyrion Lannister (and another Emmy-worthy performance from Peter Dinklage) in our future. Based on the second novel in George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" series, "A Clash of Kings," season two of "Thrones" promises even more political intrigue, warfare, sex and violence than ever before — and given the show in question, that's certainly saying something!
Several critics have already seen the first episode of the new season of "Thrones," and with very few exceptions, their reactions have been overwhelmingly positive. Here's a taste of the reviews:
The Story "It's a pleasure to see that 'Game of Thrones' hasn't lost a grip on its ability to tell a vast, interconnected story without slowing down the pace. What's truly impressive is that as life is breathed into these storylines, 'Game of Thrones' just gets better and more fulfilling as a top-tier television series. The intrigue of the plot and the keenly drawn characters — plus the sense instilled in Season 1 that absolutely anything can happen and no one is safe — makes the show all the more compelling." — Tim Goodman, The Hollywood Reporter
Accessibility for Non-Readers "I had read the first volume of George R.R. Martin's saga 'A Song of Ice and Fire' (the source material for this series) before I watched the first season of 'GoT' so I would be familiar with the vast array of characters and plots that would develop. But I intentionally did not read the epic's second volume, 'A Clash of Kings,' before watching the start of 'GoT' season 2, because I wanted to see if I'd have trouble following the new intricacies. And I'm here to report that my lack of homework in no way prevented me from becoming enthralled with this series all over again. That's a testament to what adapters David Benioff and D.B. Weiss have accomplished in whittling down and reshaping Martin's novels for weekly TV. It's difficult enough to hook a viewer like me, who resists sprawling, noncontemporary narratives; it's another level of pop culture wizardry to make such storytelling seem so vivid, so vital, and just plain fun." — Ken Tucker, Entertainment Weekly
Blood and Boobs " 'Thrones' creates such a rich visual feast — replete with plenty of gratuitous nudity and blood-letting — as to almost obscure its fundamental storytelling pleasures, which are as much a mob drama as anything else, having traded bullets for broadswords. By that measure, this really might [be] the closest spiritual heir to 'The Sopranos' HBO has delivered since the show's notorious whiteout." — Brian Lowry, Variety
The New Guys in Town "Even though I'm a fan of Martin's novels, I must confess that I always found the Stannis retainer Davos Seaworth fairly bland and boring, but Liam Cunningham, like Emilia Clarke, ably brings to life a character who could seem rather remote on the page. Several other smaller roles have been filled with lively specificity, but I have to wonder if we'll get enough time with each of these people. Will the plight of Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie), a stoic warrior who nurtures an unrequited love for royal contender Renly Baratheon, be as sadly evocative as it was in the books? Will there be time for the show to do more than lightly sketch the dilemmas of minor but interesting characters like her?" — Maureen Ryan, Huffington Post
The Bottom Line "As with the novels, this 'Game of Thrones' is breathtakingly ambitious, an ever-unfurling tapestry that threatens, at times, to overwhelm its frame. That it does not is a testament to the power of piecework — art is not defined by the space it occupies but by its details, the truth it captures. Many heads bend over this adaptation, each belonging to a master of his or her craft, and what emerges is a truly new, and miraculously accurate, definition of epic television." — Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times
Are you excited for more "Thrones" action? Tell us in the comments section or hit me up on Twitter @roundhoward!
Related Videos Related PhotosCharlies Angels Charlize Theron Chelsea Handler Cheryl Burke China Chow
VIDEO: Judith Light Discusses Her Involvement With The LGBT Community
Get More: Big Morning Buzz Live
Gwen Stefani Halle Berry Hayden Panettiere Haylie Duff Heidi Klum
Les News, 033112
The Bacon Coffin: For those who love Bacon to death. [Buzzfeed] The Ocotomom is now on welfare. [ONTD!] Orlando Bloom and Flynn go for a hike, explode ovaries as they pass. [PopSugar] The Hunger Games wins at the box office again. [GossipCop] The new Calvin Klein campaign is hot hot hot. [
Jessica Biel Jessica Cauffiel Jessica Paré Jessica Simpson Zooey Deschanel
Usher's Looking For Myself Due June 11
Singer announces that he's teamed up with Salaam Remi, Rico Love, Jim Jonsin and Max Martin for his latest album.
By Jocelyn Vena
<P>On his Diplo-produced slow jam, Usher took fans to the <a href="http://rapfix.mtv.com/2012/02/16/usher-diplo-climax-love-affair-song">"Climax"</a> and gave them and a sensually searing tease to his upcoming album, <i>Looking for Myself.</i> </P><P> </P><P>On Friday (March 30), Usher announced that along with Diplo, he also teamed up with Salaam Remi, Rico Love, Jim Jonsin and Max Martin on the album, due June 11. He's expected to release both a standard and deluxe version of the album. </P><P> </P><P><center><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:713197/cp~vid%3D713197%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A713197" width="460" height="260" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="."></embed></center> </P><P> </P><P><i>Looking for Myself</i> is the follow-up to 2010's <i>Raymond v. Raymond</i>, which launched mega-singles like the ubiquitous will.i.am-produced "OMG," as well as "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)," "Lil Freak," "There Goes My Baby" and "More." He also maintained radio presence thanks to his inescapable collaboration with <a href="/news/articles/1674782/usher-david-guetta-without-you.jhtml">David Guetta, "Without You,"</a> in 2011. </P><P> </P><P>"He has very specific ideas of where he wants to go musically and sound-wise," <a href="/news/articles/1675448/usher-album-taio-cruz.jhtml">"Without You" collaborator Taio Cruz</a> told MTV News about Usher's next release. "He always wants there to be the soul in there. I'm kind of, not the opposite, but I'm always like, 'Let's get straight to the point and be really clear with the message and be simple.' So we try to match those two worlds together: being soulful and, at the same time, catchy," </P><P> </P><P>Given their work on "Without You," that may give fans an idea of what the twosome have up their sleeves for <i>Looking For Myself.</i> "I think the world wanted a record like that. That [song] really spoke to the journey that I've actually been on in the last three years," Usher said about that song and how it relates to his musical philosophy. "Traveling all around the world, music sounds different. There's many different genres, and when you see R&B and pop and house, as well as electronic, come together, that's the reality of what music is." </P><P> </P><P><i>What do you hope to hear on </i>Looking for Myself.</i>? Leave your comment below!</i></p>
Related ArtistsCarla Campbell Carla Gugino Carmen Electra Carol Grow Carrie Underwood
Did Miley Cyrus Flash a Huge Ring to Upstage Her Hunger Games Boyfriend?
Is Miley Cyrus trying to upstage her boyfriend now that Liam Hemsworth is in a huge movie with The Hunger Games? Why else would she be�flashing�what may or may not be an engagement...
Elisabeth Röhm Elisha Cuthbert Eliza Dushku Emilie de Ravin Emma Heming
NFL Star Jeremy Shockey -- I Want an Apology from the NFL Network
Jeremy Shockey is fuming mad that Warren Sapp labeled him as "the snitch" in the New Orleans Saints infamous "bounty scandal" -- and since Sapp called him out not the NFL Network, he wants an apology from Sapp and the league ... TMZ has learned.NFL…
Amanda Marcum Amanda Peet Amanda Righetti Amanda Swisten Amber Arbucci
Box Office Report: 'Hunger Games' Devours 'Wrath', 'Mirror Mirror' With $20 Mil-Plus Friday
Pamela McClintock "Wrath of the Titans" is looking at soft Friday gross of $11 million, while the family friendly "Mirror Mirror" should gross between $6 million and $7 million.
Audrina Patridge Autumn Reeser Avril Lavigne Bali Rodriguez Bar Refaeli
Robert Plant And Alison Krauss Win Grammy Album Of The Year
Raising Sand, from Led Zeppelin vet and bluegrass superstar, wins five Grammys on Sunday night.
By James Montgomery with MTV News staff
<P>"I'm bewildered," <a href="/music/artist/plant_robert/artist.jhtml">Robert Plant</a> said onstage as he accepted the <MTVNLINK type="news" id="1604580">Grammy Album of the Year award</MTVNLINK> with <a href="/music/artist/krauss_alison/artist.jhtml">Alison Krauss</a> on Sunday night. "In the old days we would have called this selling out, but it's a good way to spend a Sunday." </P><P> </P><P>He was probably one of the few who were surprised, because <i>Raising Sand,</i> which won five trophies at Sunday night's show, is in many ways the perfect <a href="http://www.mtv.com/news/grammys/">Grammy</a> album. It features two respected veterans, a critically lauded producer, some sandpaper-and-velvet vocals and a baker's dozen of time-tested standards.</p><div style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;"><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:338316" width="256" height="223" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashVars="configParams=instance%3Dnews%26vid%3D338316" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="."></embed></div><p> </P><P> </P><P>You're probably familiar with Robert Plant from his <a href="/music/artist/led_zeppelin/artist.jhtml">Led Zeppelin</a> days, and you might be aware of producer T-Bone Burnett's work on the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack (it won the Grammy for Album of the Year in 2002). And if you don't know who Alison Krauss is, she possesses a haunting set of pipes and is one of the meanest fiddle players in the world. Oh, and she's won 21 Grammys, more than any other female artist and the seventh-most in history. </P><P> </P><P>Really, she's the key to <i>Sand</i>'s success, and not just because of her voice (or her fiddle playing). She and Plant first met in 2004, at a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame tribute to legendary bluesman Leadbelly, and the former Zeppelin man was amazed by her knowledge of American Roots music — so much so that they began kicking around the idea of recording an album together. Three years later, <i>Sand</i> was released. </P><P> </P><P>And while Plant possesses the more famous voice, the album's finest moments radiate from Krauss. Whether she's getting bluesy on Little Milton's "Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson" or entwining with Plant's husky voice on songs like "Please Read the Letter" and Roly Salley's winsome "Killing the Blues," she more than carries her end of the bargain. </P><P> </P><P>And perhaps that's also due to producer Burnett, who handpicked the 13 songs the duo cover on <i>Sand.</i> His arrangements are sparse — giving the two voices ample room to breathe — yet dense, warm and crackling at the same time. It's a testament to his work that he's often given just as much billing as Plant and Krauss on the project ... and it's certainly justified. </P><P> </P><P>To date, <i>Sand</i> has sold more than 1 million copies, heaped tons of acclaim and actually earned a Grammy last year — "Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)" took home the award for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals. </P><P> </P><P>One expert was surprised not by the album's success, but by the fact that it's actually quite a good album. </P><P> </P><P>"At first, the album seemed like a vanity project. ... Two names, clearly a one-off record, didn't have to be any good, you know?" <i>New York Times</i> music critic Jon Caramanica said. "Led Zeppelin fans would buy it because of Robert Plant, Alison Krauss would get a check. But it actually turned out to be a really thoughtful, really <i>good</i> record. So when you combine all that with the fact that the Grammys love to lionize one of their own, I could really see it taking home some awards." </P><P></p>
Related Videos Related ArtistsAshlee Simpson Ashley Greene Ashley Olsen Ashley Scott Ashley Tappin
New blood pumps Broadway box office
Legit News:
'Evita,' 'Salesman,' 'Newsies' offset losses at some shows 
'Evita,' 'Salesman,' 'Newsies' offset losses at some shows
Charli Baltimore Charlies Angels Charlize Theron Chelsea Handler Cheryl Burke
Robbie Williams Announces Wife?s Pregnancy: ?We Had Sex! It Works?
Robbie Williams Announces Wife’s Pregnancy: “We Had Sex! It Works”
Robbie Williams is going to be a first-time daddy! The British singer took to his website on Friday to announce his exciting baby news. The [...]
Robbie Williams Announces Wife’s Pregnancy: “We Had Sex! It Works” Stupid Celebrities Gossip Stupid Celebrities Gossip News
Bianca Kajlich Bijou Phillips Blake Lively Blu Cantrell Bonnie Jill Laflin
Afternoon Mail! Is Jessica Simpson's Baby Bump Good for Business?
Dear Ted:
Don't you think that Jessica Simpson has milked her pregnancy for all it's worth? She has made outrageous statements on talk shows and you can hardly�find a picture...
Jessica Paré Jessica Simpson Zooey Deschanel Aaliyah Abbie Cornish
Miranda Kerr Spills on Motherhood
The Aussie beauty gushes about how becoming a mother has changed her life! Plus, hear how she got back that angelic body after giving birth.
Amanda Marcum Amanda Peet Amanda Righetti Amanda Swisten Amber Arbucci
Hitoshi Takekiyo Talks About His new Film 'After School Midnighters' (Q&A)
Gavin J. Blair Having made his name in Japan through award-winning TV commercials and graphics sequences for major sporting event broadcasts, Takekiyo?s "After School Midnight" animated short was picked up by France?s Canal+ in 2007. Persuaded to revisit the project last year by producer friends, Takekiyo is currently putting the finishing touches on a full-length anime version entitled "After School Midnighters." The director spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about the project, his respect for Pixar and why he can resist the bright lights of Tokyo.
Anna Paquin AnnaLynne McCord Anne Marie Kortright April Scott Arielle Kebbel
Ke$ha - Take It Off
- Artist: Ke$ha
- Label: RCA
- Director: Paul Hunter, Dori Oskowitz
- Album: King of the Blues Guitar
Brittny Gastineau Brody Dalle Brooke Burke Brooke Burns Busy Philipps
Conrad Murray Sentence 'Not Enough,' MJ Fans Say
But other Michael Jackson supporters outside L.A. courthouse tell MTV News 'justice has been served.'
By Katie Byrne, with reporting by Vanessa White Wolf
<P><b>LOS ANGELES</b> — During the trial of Dr. Conrad Murray, <a href="/music/artist/jackson_michael/artist.jhtml">Michael Jackson</a>'s fans have been as much a fixture at the courthouse as the <a href="/news/articles/1675068/conrad-murray-sentencing.jhtml">Jackson family</a>. When <a href="/news/articles/1675062/conrad-murray-sentence.jhtml">Murray was sentenced to four years</a> in jail Tuesday (November 29), MTV News spoke with those loyal fans outside the court to see if the maximum sentence was an apt punishment. </P><P> </P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="MIchael Jackson Fans React To Conrad Murray Sentence" id="vid:715142.id:1673923" width="240" height="211"></div><p> </P><P> </P><P>"Four years — not enough, but at least something," said one fan, sporting a red jacket in tribute to MJ. "And where I come from, a little something is always better than nothing." </P><P> </P><P>One pair of friends might have been wearing matching <i>Thriller</i> T-shirts, but their opinions on Murray's sentence certainly didn't match. "If four years is the maximum and he got the maximum — I know she's not happy, but I'm happy," one of the women said, gesturing to her less-than-pleased companion. "I feel like justice was served and that L.A. can now be proud and stand tall." </P><P> </P><P>"It's better than nothing, but it's not even close to justice," said another fan, wearing Jackson's trademark fedora and sequined glove. "Not only was [Murray] negligent; he let the man die. It's unconscionable. He didn't even try. How would a heart doctor not know how to give CPR? It's insane." </P><P> </P><P>The cardiologist, who was found guilty of one felony count of involuntary manslaughter November 7, was facing up to four years in state prison in the death of the pop icon, but due to recent changes to alleviate overcrowding in California prisons, the judge in the case said he was unable to send the doctor to state prison for his crime. On top of that, <a href="/news/articles/1675080/conrad-murray-sentence-four-years-experts.jhtml">legal expert Mike Cavalluzzi told MTV News</a> that Murray will likely serve less than half of his four-year sentence. </P><P> </P><P>Those legal loopholes concerned a female fan outside the courthouse, but she was also happy that the maximum punishment was doled out. </P><P> </P><P>"The only thing I'm worried about now, with the overcrowding of the jails, he might get one year and house arrest," she told MTV News. "I'm just hoping it'll be four years, that's what I'm praying. I'm just glad that justice has been served today, and I'm glad justice can be served to the family and to the fans, and everybody around today will be happy and celebrate that justice has been served. And I'm sure Michael's looking from heaven right now."</p>
Related Videos Related ArtistsDido Diora Baird Dita Von Teese Dominique Swain Donna Feldman
vrijdag 30 maart 2012
Abonneren op:
Posts (Atom)