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Marvel Releases Official 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier' DVD/Blu-Ray Trailer

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Considering he’s a superhero who made his bones fighting Nazis in World War II, Captain America was perhaps the most unlikely Avenger to star in an adventure that captures the paranoia and technology of the 21st century. But with The Winter Soldier, directors Anthony and Joe Russo tapped into something more than good guys versus bad guys. “To build a better world sometimes means tearing the old one down,” says Alexander Pierce, the calculating intelligence bureaucrat played by Robert Redford. “And that makes enemies.”

Starring in The Avengers certainly boosted Cap’s profile, but that’s not the only reason that the superhero’s sequel nearly doubled the global box-office of his 2011 franchise-starter. While the 2012 superfriends blockbuster took place in a world where the primary threats are external — Shakespearean villains and angry aliens — The Winter Soldier turned inward, holding up a mirror to the military-industrial complex S.H.I.E.L.D. had created. It was more layered and complex, and some smart people anointed it Marvel’s best film yet. As a result, Cap is feeling kind of chesty. His next standalone film is slated for May 6, 2016 — the same date as Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

The Winter Soldier arrives on digital Aug. 19 and then Blu-ray on Sept. 9.

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Video Surfaces Of Carmen Carrera Saying 'Tranny' In Interview

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A new video has surfaced of transgender star Carmen Carrera using the word "tranny" in an interview, which wouldn't necessarily be problematic if Carrera weren't one of the leading proponents of removing the word from everyday speech. (Last week, Carrera appeared to target RuPaul and his supporters for their continued use of the word.)

So here's Carmen using the word in an interview:



It doesn't appear that she's using "tranny" in a pejorative way. Does that make it okay?

When is acceptable to use the term? Or is it ever?

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Recovering Falcao left off Colombia's final 23-player World Cup roster

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Colombia's star striker Radamel Falcao has lost his battle to be fit for the World Cup.
National coach Jose Pekerman named his tournament squad on Monday evening during a press conference held in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Falcao, who suffered a serious knee injury when on duty for his club side Monaco in January, was left off the 23-man list, with Pekerman deciding he would not be ready.


The former Atletico Madrid frontman, who was a big-money signing by Monaco last summer, looked to have no hope of making his country's squad for the tournament in Brazil when he sustained the injury, however his recovery then progressed swiftly.

Pekerman said last week he would "wait for Falcao until the last day, the last minute" before deciding on his fitness, after consulting with medical experts, and the final decision went against the 28-year-old.

"Muriel, Perea and Falcao are not going to be at the World Cup, Jose Pekerman has announced," said a message on the national team's official Twitter account.

Colombia face Greece, Ivory Coast and Japan at Brazil 2014.


src

ontd, any key players who didn't make your team?

Everybody is Staying for RHOA Season 7 + RHOBH Season 5 Delayed Due to Pay Disputes?

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After this past season smashed Bravo ratings records, it appears all the ladies of the “Real Housewives of Atlanta” will likely be returning to the show.

Porsha William’s attack on Kenya Moore during the “RHOA” Season 6 reunion show taping led to rumors that a shakeup was coming to the show’s cast. Many suspected that Williams would lose her spot for physically attacking Moore. And Moore and fellow housewife Nene Leakes both hinted at their possible departure from the show.




But Radar Online says sources speaking with site have revealed the entire cast has been asked to return for a seventh season.

“All of the ladies are coming back, they’ve all been given their contracts,” a source revealed to Radar. “That brawl between Porsha [Williams] and Kenya was the best thing to happen to the show and the Bravo producers want all of the women back for more drama next season.”

Many fans of the show demanded the firing of Moore since they believed she instigated the fight with Williams. Others said that Porsha needed to go for getting physical with a cast mate, and some even hoped Leakes would be on the chopping block for her role in much of this past season’s drama.

However, with the record-breaking ratings the ladies brought in during the sixth season, it’s really no surprise they have all been asked to return. Playing off of the established issues between the cast members will equal guarantee drama. Plus, witnessing the fallout from the battle between Williams and Moore will draw in viewers as well.

The source added the only issue Bravo may face from trying to lock down the full cast is money.

“Everyone wants more money this season,” the source told Radar. “They KNOW how well the show does, how all of them are making those network folks tons of money and the ladies want a part of that.”

Cynthia Bailey, Kandi Burruss and Phaedra Parks are all reportedly in negations for the next season. And in a recent interview with Hollywood Life, Leakes said, to her knowledge, the whole cast is “good to go.” But Bravo has yet to make an official announcement about the network’s final casting decision.



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More like 'Real GROUSEwives of Beverly Hills' -- Kyle Richards and co. are refusing to sign contracts to film the next season of the show ... effectively staging a holdout until they ALL get more money.

According to sources, 5 cast members have been asked to return for the fifth season -- Lisa Vanderpump, Kyle Richards, Kim Richards, Brandi Glanville, and Yolanda Foster -- but so far, zero have agreed to come back.

As we reported, Lisa has made it very clear she's on the fence about renewing her contract for personal reasons -- but we're told the other women are, more predictably, holding out for fatter paychecks.

Sources tell us negotiations have been intense, but Bravo is close to finalizing deals for everyone except Lisa, who remains a question mark.

As for who will replace the cast members who got bounced -- Joyce Giraud and Carlton Gebbia -- it's unclear ... but we're told the new fiancee of Yolanda's ex-husband is a front-runner. Wonder why.


sources: http://www.ibtimes.com/entire-real-housewives-atlanta-cast-returning-season-7-show-report-1592835&http://www.tmz.com/2014/05/30/real-housewives-of-beverly-hills-cast-members-contracts-more-money/


why are cynthia, yolanda & kim coming back? porsha & brandi will be a damn mess



Degrassi comes back TOMORROW

Sleepy Hollow's *"Darling Duo"* for the LATimes

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they got excited that they were going to be asked twitter questions lol


Oliver Stone to Direct Edward Snowden Movie

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Never one to shy away from controversy, it appears that Oliver Stone will be the filmmaker to bring the inevitable feature film portrayal of NSA leaker Edward Snowden to fruition. The European co-production is based on Luke Harding’s book The Snowden Files, which recounts how the young computer professional breached the National Security Agency to leak evidence of America’s global surveillance. The Guardian reports that Stone hopes to begin production by the end of this year, as a rival Edward Snowden film is in the works based on the book No Place to Hide. Harding and other Guardian journalists will be consulting on Stone’s film.

Stone has never been afraid of delving into politically charged material, though it has made for mixed results. JFK and Platoon are fantastic, while films like W. and Alexander fell short of their promise. Stone’s recent output hasn’t been stellar, but whatever he cooks up with The Snowden Files is sure to be provocative.


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Who should be cast as Snowden? I vote David Tennant

Walter White to "definitely" return in Better Call Saul

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Bryan Cranston/Walter White will 'definitely' return in the new spin-off 'Better Call Saul' despite his character being seemingly killed off in the Breaking Bad finale last year.



With the new show coming and the possibility of flashbacks or flash-forwards, there is going to be something with Walter White," a source told the website. "They won't do it as a gimmick, it will actually mean something when they do it. Definitely expect the return of Walter White in some way, shape or form in the new show."
However the insider was unable to confirm whether Walter White will be alive when he returns to the small-screen.

They explained: "I wouldn't be able to answer that, but I know that they have options of bringing him back and that they will do it in an awesome way."
Better Call Saul is expected to debut in November.

+BCS first read-through:

#BetterCallSaul‬ starts shooting soon! Pic from hilarious cast read-thru... ‪@mrbobodenkirk‬ giving speech to troops.
Script: BETTER CALL SAUL / "TBD" / Written by Vince Gilligan & Peter Gould /  Directed by Vince Gilligan

Many of you know Mr. J Banks will return in ‪#BetterCallSaul‬. Picking up where Mike left off -- stuffed in a barrel.

Nice contrast to S5's "Blood Money" read thru :'( which looked like a Victims-of-Vince-Gilligan support group:


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Short film starring Chanel Iman is slammed for 'glorifying' and 'fetishizing' thigh gap obsession

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A video intended to “diffuse” the thigh gap obsession is being slammed for fetishizing the fixation instead.

“The Magic Gap,” which was shot by fashion photog and director Guy Aroch, is part of lifestyle website NOWNESS’ #DefineBeauty campaign.

“As a male, I didn’t even know (the thigh gap obsession) was a thing,” Aroch told NOWNESS.

“Thigh gap” refers to a space between the upper thighs when someone is standing with her legs together.

Pictures of women with this gap — which is primarily dictated by genetics — often serve as unhealthy and dangerous “thinspiration” for people who may go to extreme measures to make sure their upper legs don’t touch.


Aroch used a “romanticized, sun-kissed filter” when filming “The Magic Gap” in Manhattan, according to NOWNESS.

The clip features leggy models Chanel Iman, Gigi Hadid, Alyssa Miller and Elsa Hosk to “depict the controversial fixation that is largely based on pelvic shape and tendon length,” according to a synopsis of the short.

Aroch asked people in SoHo and Central Park if they knew what “magic gap” means, and their answers act as narration for the video.

The participants give different responses, which, as blog Fashionista points out, may be “because — at least, until now — ‘magic gap’ is not commonly used to describe the thigh gap phenomenon.”

Fashionista blasted the video for “glorifying” the thigh gap.

“There's nothing probing about this video, nothing that makes the viewer step back and say, ‘You know, why are we obsessing over this?’” the post said.

An article on Shape magazine’s website described the video as “basically two minutes of pelvic exams on supermodels, all of whom have very noticeable gaps.”


“Aroch had a real opportunity to start a conversation about why this particular feature has become the standard of beauty. There is no intelligent commentary, no debate, no insight. Instead he just fetishizes it,” the article continues.

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Naked Fashion Queen Rihanna @ the CFDA Awards

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Yes, she is wearing a thong

Source: 123
fuck she is so HOT! & she doesn't gaf.

Sam Smith x Mary J Blige - Stay With Me

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So happy for him and all the success he's having. The album's wonderful, one of the best so far this year. Poor John Newman Tho

See a Plus-Size Take on the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Calendar

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Famous plus-size model Robyn Lawley and equally famous plus-size blogger GabiFresh took on Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Edition recently—and their effective visual commentary needed no words at all. The two women, along with fellow plus-size models Shareefa J and Jada Sezer, posed for a SwimsuitsForAll-sponsored calendar that featured the same cover pose SI used with Nina Agdal, Lily Aldridge and Chrissy Teigen earlier this year.

The motive behind the shoot was one of complete body acceptance regardless of size."I think there needs to be more publications and campaigns so that people can say, wow, I look like these women, and they look comfortable and sexy and they're portraying my body type," Sezer said. The calendar, which the swimsuit company is touting as the "First Ever Curvy Swimsuit Calendar," is available to download for free on the site.







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Ladies Of London Is Here! Meet The Cast Of Your New Fav Show!!!!

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The Real Housewives of London? Not quite, but Bravo is jumping across the pond to mingle with a new clique of women in Ladies of London.

Tonight is the start of a new show on Bravo called Ladies of London. This is another reality show full of drama that you will not want to miss. You can check out the preview in the video below.

The women in this show are rich and one woman shares that she has spent $30,000 in one day before. One of them is even a royal and others have some that are really good friends.

Some of the girls are not really from London which makes things harder for them. Money only gets you so far there and it is hard to fit in. They have to different cultures and this show will be a lot about how they find a way to make it work together. You can't buy your way into a group here.

Annabelle Neilson – who’s friends with Kate Moss and was the late Alexander McQueen‘s muse — and Caroline Stanbury – who is married to a wealthy financier — are born-and-bred Brits, but Caprice Bourret, Juliet Angus, Noelle Reno, Marissa Hermer and Julie Montagu are all American girls who jumped across the pond, and now call London their home.

All of the women are accomplished, beautiful, have impressive careers and run in a who’s who of social circles, but being crowned an “it” girl in London is not an easy task.





Meet The Ladies of London!


The show is set to feature five American-born women–model Caprice Bourrett, fashion gurus Juliet Angus, and Noelle Reno, business expert Marissa Hermer, and health and wellness coach Julie Montagu.

They will be schooled in in English ways by natives Annabelle Nielsen, an author from South London; and Caroline Stanbury, former girlfriend to Prince Andrew and part of the Vestey dynasty.

Ladies of London is just one of an increasing number of reality television shows focused almost exclusively on women.

Learn more about the cast below.


Annabelle Neilson


Age: 45
From: London/Oxfordshire
Occupation: Author
Family: Divorced from Nathaniel Rothschild

Neilson is part of high society, not only once married to Rothschild but also the daughter of investment advisor Max Neilson, who is part of a wealthy aristocratic family.

Neilson was one of the best friends of late designer Alexander McQueen, meeting him during a spell when she was modeling.

She counts among her current friends Kate Moss, Jude Law, Naomi Campbell, and Richard Branson.

She’s the author of a children’s book “On the Pond” and is currently working on one about her friendship with McQueen.

The preview of the season shows the women trying to cheer Neilson up, as she’s still mourning McQueen’s death.

“Since Alexander’s death she’s been sort of withdrawn and I’m just trying to get her out because I want her to meet new people,” Caprice says.






Caprice


Age: 42
From: Hacienda Heights, California
Occupation: Fashion designer
Family: Two sons with boyfriend Ty Comfort

Another former fashion model, Caprice moved to London decades ago to pursue her career.

She’s graced the covers of British GQ, Esquire, Maxim, Vogue, and Cosmopolitan.

Not content to stay just in the modeling world, Caprice has appeared in over 150 films and TV shows along with some theatrical productions.

Caprice also started her own fashion company called By Caprice.

She met Comfort in 2011 and they have two children, Jett and Jax. One was conceived via a surrogate while the other is from Caprice.

The show started filming when Caprice was pregnant so a lot of the focus is on her becoming a new mom.






Noelle Reno


Age: 33
From: Seattle, Washington
Occupation: TV presenter, fashion entrepreneur
Family: Engaged to Scot Young

Reno grew up in Seattle but sought to get into the modeling business early, dreaming about a life outside suburbia. She signed with Elite at 13.

She moved to London at age 20 and met her current fiance Scot Young through ex-fiance Matthew Mellon.

Since she moved overseas, Reno has become a fashion entrepreneur, TV correspondent, and socialite.

Among her business exploits has been co-founding Degrees of Freedom, a cashmere fashion brand, and partnering with Zandra Rhodes, celebrated fashion designer, to found clothing line Z by Zandra Rhodes.

Reno has also gotten into blogging, other writing, and public speaking.

In the series, she and Young are back together after breaking up while he was in jail for three months, and the couple are in a legal battle with Scot’s ex-wife.






Marissa Hermer


Age: 32
From: Newport Beach, California
Occupation: Director of Special Projects, Ignite Group
Family: Married to Matt Hermer, two children

Hermer was born in Laguna Beach and raised in Newport Beach.

She graduated from Middlebury in Vermont and decided to move to London.

She later moved to New York to work for fashion luxury business Nadine Johnson and later Syndicate Media Group. It was in the city that she reconnected with Matt, a nightclub owner and resurateur in London, and moved back to London. They married in 2010.

Now Hermer has her own company that operates around the world.

Among the holdings is high-end nightclub Boujis, a favorite among royals such as Prince Harry.

Hermer reveals in the show that “‘It’s one of the most exclusive night clubs in the world. In order to get in you need to be a member, or a royal, have won an Oscar or a Grammy.”

In the series, Hermer is seen getting her citizenship and celebrating as a party. Hermer gets on the nerves of some of the other women, ironically by refusing to trash talk.

“Marissa is seriously the sweetest person but sometimes it’s like little Miss Perfect. That is a quality that it a little bit annoying,” Juliet says.






Caroline Stanbury


Age: About 38
From: London
Occupation: Founder of Gift Library
Family: Married to Cem Habib, three children

Stanbury was born into the esteemed Vesey family and began mixing with royals from a young age.

She reportedly dated Prince Andrew at one point, among other romantic relationships with the likes of Hugh Grant.

Stanbury has been a personal stylist for some of London’s most glamorous socialites, but became a businesswoman by launching Gift Library in 2008.

The company engages in luxury gifting and personal shopping services. She later expanded with The Wedding Shop of Caroline Stanbury.

Stanbury in the series comes to be known as emotional, and not in a good way.

“Caroline is someone that will be so nice to you and then turn around and absolutely annihilate you,” Caprice says in the preview.






Juliet Angus


Age: About 38
From: Chicago
Occupation: Fashion PR consultant and stylist
Family: Married to Gregor Angus, two children

Angus was born and raised in Chicago but moved to London in 2010.

Prior to moving she called many celebrities close friends and spent much of her time in Hollywood.

That helped transition to London’s social scene when she moved.

Besides being a fashion guru Angus is an aspiring newscaster and actress, having completed her Bachelors of Arts in Broadcast Journalism at the University of Southern California.

She and her husband live in Battersea, South London.

In the series, Juliet shows that she is quite brash.

“When you go out with Juliet, you buy tickets to the Juliet show. Sometimes it’s a bit too much for some Brits,” Marissa said. Annabelle describes Juliet as both “Daisy Duke on speed” and “an over-excited terrier.”






Julie Montagu


Age: About 41
From: Sugar Grove, Illinois
Occupation: Yoga instructor, health coach
Family: Married to Luke Montagu, four children

Montagu is a former model now engaged in the modern health movement as a yoga instructor and health and fitness coach.

She’s also known as Lady Hinchingbrooke because her husband is the heir to the Early of Sandwich, also known as Viscount Hinchingbrooke.

They married at the family estate in Southwest England but now live in London.

Montagu owns her own company, which is self-titled. Products include a power yoga DVD and an online nutrition e-learning course.

She also created the Super Healthy Options menu for the Bumpkin chain of restaurants.









Tamra Plans To Confront Heather At Reunion!


During last week's episode of RHOC, Heather Dubrow threw a Hoedown to celebrate breaking ground on her dream home. The Hoedown included a mechanical bull that several of the Housewives were excited to try, but when Tamra Judge took her turn, she didn’t hear Heather tell the operator, “Turn that up.”

As Tamra was waiting for the bull to start, Terry Dubrow asked Heather, “You turned that way up?”

She replied, “Yes.” Tamra took a hard fall and Heather acted shocked.

“Are you ok?” Heather asks Tamra. “That was too fast! Why did they do that so fast? Did they do that on purpose? Fire him. That’s not funny!”

Tamra had to go to the ER to make sure she hadn’t broken her arm. Luckily, there was just a lot of soft tissue bruising, leaving her arm black and blue. Viewers were curious to hear Tamra’s reaction after she watched the episode and heard Heather tell the operator to turn the bull up. And Tamra tells us EXCLUSIVELY she was shocked.

“I had no idea Heather told the bull operator to ‘turn it up’ until I saw the footage,” Tamra EXCLUSIVELY tells us. “What shocked me the most was to hear her say ‘he should be fired for turning it up.’ Say what? I’m still absorbing this info and quite frankly I have mixed emotions. Heather has text me to say she is sorry and she was just kidding. I guess we will deal with it at the reunion. She’s still my fancy pants.”

Do you think Heather is sorry or just sorry she got caught?













http://ONTDRH.livejournal.com






sources: AllThingsRH, TheEpochTimes

The Voice of Girls Aloud™ performs on some TV show

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YouTube

Not the Irish Queen of Pop serving us this flawless vocal after the release of Churrol's flop single today.

Arrivals at the CFDA Fashion Awards

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Greta Gerwig


Rihanna


Marion Cotillard


Chris Kattan


Iman


Chrissy Teigen



Anna Chlumsky


Betsey Johnson


Joan Smalls


Olivia Palermo


Jaime King



Jennifer Hudson


Emmy Rossum


Dree Hemingway


Thea Andrews


Blake Lively


Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen



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Ranking the Women of Game of Thrones

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9. Ellaria Sand



Nooooooooooooooo. I did not see the death of Oberyn coming after he'd speared the Mountain a few times and slit his ankle. We feel for you, Ellaria, but all great orgies must come to an end. Your greatest protector just got his head squeezed like a pimple—get out of King's Landing, now!

5. Arya Stark



Hell yeah for some laughter on Game of Thrones. Arya will never have to deal with her crazy aunt, and now she gets to go on more swashbuckling adventures with The Hound! This is a great turn of events. The only problem is that her guardian might develop a Drogo-like infection, leaving the wee Stark to fend for herself. Better start practicing that water-dancing routine, Arya.


3. Daenerys Targaryen



Chill out, Khaleesi! Yeah, Ser Jorah, was a traitor, but that's not the point. Homeboy is so in love with you, he'd do anything to protect you and your beautiful baby dragons. I get being angry in the moment, but you should've slept on the decision to banish your most trusted, and knowledgable advisor.

2. Sansa



YES, Sansa, YES!!! Love the way you lie. This is the moment I've been waiting for from the show's least ambitious Stark. Throughout Season 4, this column has been very cruel to Sansa—some say needlessly so—but in this episode, she pulled off a key power move. Rather than surrender her slimy, yet ultra protective uncle and (soon to be?) lover, she looked out for herself. Now Sansa basically owns a castle, and got a sexy makeover.

1. Cersei Lannister



Welp, she picked the right person to fight Oberyn. The Queen Regent, one way or another, always gets what she wants. In this case, it's soon to be Tyrion's head. Unless her brother can think of something, Cersei is about to secure herself as the kingdom's deadliest woman to never get her hands dirty.

See the full list at the SOURCE

The spoiler is now under a cut mods.

Dr. Dre Buys Tom Brady & Gisele's McMansion for $40 MILLION DOLLAHS

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dre-house

Dr. Dre has purchased the Brentwood, California mansion belonging to Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen. According to the Los Angeles Times, the Beats co-founder spent $40 million on the four-acre estate.

The five-bedroom home was originally listed for $50 million. Brady and Bundchen purchased the property in 2009 and built the 14,000-square-foot mansion from scratch.

Highlights include a moat, sweeping terraces, and an infinity pool with views of the Pacific Ocean.

Apple announced late last month that it would buy Dr. Dre's company, Beats Electronics, for $3 billion. He's worth a reported $800 million after the deal.

While news of Dre buying the mansion broke before the Apple-Beats deal became official, we can't help but think the new pad was a celebratory purchase.



Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/dr-dre-buys-tom-brady-gisele-house-for-40-million-2014-6#ixzz33cME8opo

Maleficent: If Only She Were Allowed to Be Bad

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Maleficent is based on Sleeping Beauty. Sleeping Beauty is literally hundreds of years old. Yet here is a spoiler alert: this post will discuss the plot of Maleficent in great detail. You’ve been warned.
Of all the villains re-imagined and popularized by Disney, Maleficent might just be the most fearsome of the pack. She has none of Gaston’s goofiness or Captain Hook’s insecurity; she has powers beyond what Cinderella’s stepmother could ever imagine. She revels in wickedness, basks in cruelty. She’s petty and violent and bitter. She can hold a grudge like a toddler holds a teddy bear: with all her might, close to her heart.

Maleficent is the stuff nightmares are made of. She is fury in human form.
At least, Maleficent in Sleeping Beauty is. Maleficent in Maleficent? Not so much.
This is Maleficent‘s fatal flaw: If you’re going to make a movie about one of the most legitimately terrifying Disney villains of all time, you’ve got to keep the “terrifying” and “villain” in there somewhere, instead of just the “Disney.”


The peace between them is maintained through a tacit agreement to never, ever speak to one another, not unlike a truce between freshman roommates who realize they have nothing in common but also nowhere else to live. A winged, young Maleficent from the magic side befriends Stefan, a human boy.



So already, we’re spending about twenty minutes of a ninety minute movie with a Maleficent who is innocent and good-hearted, a wide-eyed, giggling free spirit.
But in the inciting incident for Maleficent’s spiral into wickedness, there’s the promise of a darker movie ahead.


Stefan, who Maleficent knows, trusts, and once loved, gives Maleficent a drink to make her fall asleep, and then he cuts off her wings. In other words, he roofies her and assaults her while she’s passed out. She wakes up to find him gone, and when she feels what he’s done to her body—not to mention her emotions—she lets out this incredible, anguished howl. It was stunning to see, as the kids say, that Disney went there.
After treading water in the scene-setting pond for so long, the movie seemed to be picking up speed and grit. Surely this was a sign that at least the next third of this film with Maleficent as anti-hero: vicious, violent, dangerous. Like a villain.
Instead, we get only one scene of villainy. It’s the scene you already know: AND ON HER SIXTEENTH BIRTHDAY SHE WILL PRICK HER FINGER / A SLEEP LIKE DEATH / GREEN SMOKE EVERYWHERE.



Wicked Angelina Jolie is phenomenal. I’d spent so much time thinking of her as that earthy, globe-trotting celebrity mom I’d totally forgotten she could do this sort of thing. If only we’d been able to see more of this.
Alas, that is the first and last time we see Maleficent do anything evil. After cursing Aurora, Maleficent opts to lurk around the little princess’s hideaway. It’s almost like Maleficent wants to develop an attachment to this girl she’s doomed to an untimely sleep-like-death. So Maleficent gets ten minutes to be a woman scorned, and then she spends the rest of the movie learning to love again and trying to undo the one badass, evil thing she did.

Even in the epic, movie-ending battle, Maleficent doesn’t get to kill Stefan. She takes the high road away from his jugular. It’s only after she lets him live that, when he attacks her again, their tussle ends in his—conveniently guilt-free—fall. If you’re thinking, “Hey, isn’t that exactly how Gaston dies in Beauty and the Beast?” you would be correct! Linda Woolverton wrote that screenplay, too.

I worry what this means for future revisionist “from the bad guy’s POV” flicks from the people who brought us some of the greatest villains of our time. What’s next? Does Cruella De Vil wind up working at an animal shelter? Are we giving Captain Hook a long-lost crocodile love? Will 2015 introduce us to Ursula: Underwater Motivational Speaker? Humanizing evil is all well and good; criminals aren’t designed in a lab and raised in a vacuum.

Show us how Maleficent got that way, fine. But taking the villainy out of these villains is like taking the poison out of Snow White’s apple.
A movie like Maleficent assumes that children can’t handle villainy, or don’t want to, a thesis that runs contrary to some of the greatest children’s stories out there, including Maleficent‘s source material.


Part of childhood entails confronting villains in fiction as a kind of rehearsal for witnessing or experiencing villainy in real life. Kids need and want to see the Wicked Witch of the West just as much as they need and want to see Dorothy. Imagine how dull, how purposeless, children’s literature would be if every horrifying villain were excised from the pages: if we had no Miss Trunchbull, no White Witch, no Big Bad Wolf.
It feels like these filmmakers think that, in order to humanize a bad guy, the bad guy must be put in a context that proves he is really a good guy. It’s the villain-as-victim, the poor, unfortunate soul who is really just heartbroken, misunderstood, or lost. As if there is no such thing as a bad guy: only a good guy who nobody gets, who is just waiting to be redeemed.


As if being misunderstood or heartbroken is justification enough for an act of evil; as if we would forgive all the world’s killers, if we just got to know them better.

As if that would excuse their violence. As if humanizing a character means removing every trace of evil from them. As if humanity and evil are somehow mutually exclusive, instead of deeply intertwined.






The three “good” fairies who are aggressively idiotic for reasons unclear (it is also unclear why such good actresses had to be saddled with such dopey roles, or why the king would entrust his daughter to these nitwits who, until Aurora’s christening, he had never met.)


-A young Maleficent, played by a miscast Isobelle Molloy, who could not evoke Jolie’s Maleficent’s presence and strength less. Molloy has been costumed like My Imaginary Well-Dressed Toddler Daughter after a tumble through the Free People catalog. She seems like a sweet kid, but where’s the fire? Was Maisie Williams too busy laughing in the face of death to swing by the set and knock this one out of the Moors?

-Ambiguous magical abilities that come and go as called for by plot, not dictated by character. How can Maleficent turn a crow into any animal she chooses, even a man, but not make her own wings grow back?


-Poor casting choice for both young and grown Stefan. His high voice is no match for Jolie’s tenor, and his meek, slowly deteriorating mind hardly seems like the kind of thing that would have captivated an adolescent Maleficent in the first place. He seems like he’d sooner get his face cut on her (100% amazing, best part of the movie) cheekbones mid-kiss than sweep her off her feet.


-The mysterious absence of anyone in the entire kingdom even close to Aurora’s age, the only exception being the prince, who we barely see.


-Weak writing. This is a huge disappointment because Woolverton’s Beauty and the Beast is just about ***flawless. But the most memorable line from Maleficent is “Well, well,” which tells you everything you need to know about both the lameness of the script and the power of Jolie’s delivery.


-Special effects that are not all that special, given that they appear to have been lifted straight out of Snow White and the Huntsman and/or Frozen. The “true love’s kiss” twist is also just like Frozen, but I’m not all that upset about it; I can support the trend in film that values female friendship and devotion just as much, if not more, than romantic love, especially a movie for children who are far more likely to relate to mother/daughter sister/sister devotion than to heterosexual courtship.


-Sleeping Beauty only sleeps for approximately three minutes.

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How many of you hated it or whatever loved it?

The 'Stairway To Heaven' Lawsuit Has Been Filed, And It Is Insane

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Using the "Led Zeppelin IV" typeface, and including a claim for the "Falsification of Rock N' Roll History," the heirs of songwriter Randy Craig Wolfe have finally lodged a copyright infringement lawsuit against Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and other Led Zeppelin parties over the 1971 song "Stairway to Heaven."
The complaint — 43 years in the making — was filed in Pennsylvania federal court Friday, and it's indeed a colorful one.

It tells the story of Wolfe (aka Randy California), a guitar virtuoso who was discovered by Jimi Hendrix at the age of 15 and later became the founding member of the band Spirit, which in 1968 released a self-titled album that made Billboard's Top 40 charts. Most notably on that album was a 2-minute, 37-second instrumental titled "Taurus" with a distinctive guitar line. According to the complaint, "Little did anyone know at the time, 17-year old Randy had created what would become some of the most famous guitar work in the history of music."


That same year, Spirit was touring. The opening band? Led Zeppelin, of course. "Jimmy Page’s use of the Etherwave-Theremin and other psychedelic-type audio effects which helped give Led Zeppelin its distinctive sound — especially prominent in 'Whole Lotta Love'— was inspired by seeing California effectively use these types of audio-enhancing effects on tour," states the complaint.

In 1970, the official story of Rock N' Roll History goes, Page holed himself up in a remote cottage in Wales called Bron-Yr-Aur, and by fireside, wrote "Stairway to Heaven."

"I had these pieces, these guitar pieces, that I wanted to put together," Page would later explain in describing the writing of the song. "I had a whole idea of a piece of music that I really wanted to try and present to everybody and try and come to terms with. Bit difficult really ..."

The song was recorded in London in 1970-71. It was released on an untitled album now known as "Led Zeppelin IV." Its introductory passage is quite iconic — arguably the one song that every aspiring guitar player tries to learn. See "Wayne's World."

But the trustee now managing the Wolfe estate is taking legal action. See better-late-than-never.

"Any reasonable observer, when comparing 'Taurus' and 'Stairway to Heaven,' must conclude that — at the very least — significant portions of the songs are nearly identical," the lawsuit argues.

Judge for yourself.



Although the complaint admits that "Led Zeppelin is undeniably one of the greatest bands in history, and their musical talent is boundless," it also notes that "this is hardly the first time Zeppelin has been accused of lifting their most famous songs."

A chart of 17 allegedly stolen songs is provided. Titles like "Dazed and Confused,""Whole Lotta Love" and "Since I’ve Been Loving You" are sourced to others. Among the allegedly ripped-off are Howlin' Wolf, Eddie Cochran, Willie Dixon, and Ritchie Valens. Led Zeppelin is said to have made six settlements (evidenced seemingly by song credits). Other supposed "infringements" prompted no legal actions.

The plaintiff is demanding statutory damages, defendants' profits, punitive damages plus equitable relief in the form of an order that Wolfe is credited as a writer of "Stairway to Heaven." A footnote in the lawsuit indicates that funds obtained from the lawsuit will go into a trust whose proceeds go to buying needy children musical instruments.

Below is the full complaint, notably from the same lawyer who just two weeks ago, was sanctioned in a songwriting dispute involving Usher. That lawyer is apparently unaware of the rash of copyright cases targeting font infringement.

As for Page, the legendary guitarist recently told a French newspaper that the claims of plagiarizing "Stairway to Heaven" were "ridiculous."


Stairway






Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/the-insane-stairway-to-heaven-lawsuit-2014-6

Short Indie Doc Celebrates the Horror Anthology

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Talented up and coming filmmaker Ryan Spindell is working hard to get his indie anthology project off the ground, and has resorted to assembling a really awesome short documentary detailing years of horror anthologies.

We Come In Pieces: The Rebirth of the Horror Anthology Film is a documentary short that chronicles and celebrates the past, present, and future of horror anthology films.

According to the press release:

When filmmaker Ryan Spindell (“Kirksdale,” “The Root Of The Problem”) set out to make his horror anthology film The Mortuary Collection (kickstarter here), producers rejected it outright. Time and time again, he was told that horror anthologies are dead at the studio level, but the question no one seemed to be able to answer was, why?

To find out Spindell teamed up with documentary filmmaker Ben Hethcoat (Dead Dad, D.I.Y) and together they sat down with legendary moviemakers Joe Dante (Gremlins, Twilight Zone: The Movie), Michael Dougherty (Trick R Treat), Darin Scott (Tales From The Hood), Larry Fessenden (We Sell The Dead) and a handful of genre experts to discuss the horror anthologies they love, the current state of the format, and the future of the horror anthology film. In the course of making the documentary, Spindell and Hethcoat discovered that despite the studios reluctance to get behind the horror anthology format, the fans of the long-dormant subgenre are as fervent as ever. With renewed enthusiasm the filmmakers have set out to connect directly with those fans by launching a Kickstarter Campaign to finance The Mortuary Collection independently.



Whatever the case may be, this is a fun, well put together indie doc that any horror fan would enjoy. And frankly, Spindell is a good filmmaker who I’d like to see behind the camera some more. Go support his campaign and keep the horror anthology alive.

Source


This was entertaining
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