Bollywood News 6th September 2013

Ranbir Kapoor admits Katrina Kaif is special to him

Mumbai: Ranbir Kapoor’s relationship with Katrina Kaif has been under huge speculation. The two good looking actors, who have worked in ‘Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani’ and ‘Rajneeti’, have often been spotted together but have refrained from talking about their equation in public.
The ‘Barfi!’ star and Kat have categorically dodged questions about their relationship status, especially after pictures of their Spanish vacation were leaked. However, during an interview to a leading daily, Ranbir admitted that Katrina was indeed a special person in his life.
On being quizzed about the people for whom he would give away his life, junior RK mentioned his parents, his dear friend Ayan Mukerji, Rohit Dhawan, Aisha Divetri (his school friend) and Katrina Kaif. And while naming Katrina, he emphasised that she is a special person in his life.
Nonetheless, Ranbir refused to speak any further regarding his relationship with the British girl.
Even Katrina recently said that she would appreciate if people respect her need for privacy.

Deepika Padukone bags ‘Fast and Furious 7’?

New Delhi: Following in the footsteps of Bollywood actors like Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Bipasha Basu and Irrfan, Deepika Padukone is all set to make her mark in Hollywood.
The leggy lass has reportedly bagged an important role in the seventh installment of the action movie series- ‘Fast and Furious’.
According to a leading daily, the 27-year-old actress, who is currently basking in the success of her latest ‘Chennai Express’, may star alongside Jason Statham and Dwayne Johnson in the Vin Diesel’s film, which will most probably hit the silver screen next year.
However, the glamorous diva, who has proved her acting prowess in movies like ‘Chennai Express’, ‘Cocktail’, ‘Om Shanti Om’ is now reportedly off to Dubai for the shooting of Farah Khan’s ‘Happy New Year’.
Deepika has plum projects - ‘Happy New Year’, Tamil periodic film’ Kochadaiyaan’, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Ram Leela’ already in her kitty.

‘Bigg Boss 7’: Controversial celebs who may participate

Mumbai: TV reality show ‘Bigg Boss’ is back with its seventh edition in India. Hosted by Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, the popular show is all set to feature some controversial faces yet again.
The show which is famous for having controversy’s favourite children may see Indian seamer Sreesanth in this season. The sportsman had made headlines for being involved in Indian Premier League spot-fixing and was also in police custody for a few days.
Bhojpuri film and TV actress Rashmi Desai, along with her actor husband Nandish Sandhu, are also expected to be on the show. Not too long ago, news of a rift between Rashmi and her better-half was doing the rounds. And perhaps the makers of the show are trying to cash-in on their alleged fight.
Even actors Apoorva Agnihotri and his wife Shilpa may participate in the show. The couple was held by the police at a rave party and Apoorva had reportedly tested positive for drugs.
And if the rumour mills are anything to go by then motormouth Dolly Bindra, who had participated in ‘Bigg Boss 4’, might enter the house.
Apart from Dolly, Rakhi Sawant and Imam Siddiqui too may make an appearance again.
So who all are you looking forward to seeing inside the ‘Bigg Boss’ house?
Let us know.

Pratyusha Banerjee in trouble; ex- boyfriend files police complaint

Mumbai: TV actress Pratyusha Banerjee has landed herself in trouble. The girl, who became a household name after essaying the role of Anandi in popular TV show ‘Balika Vadhu’, has reportedly had a tough time with her ex-boyfriend Makrand Malhotra.
Pratyusha filed a complaint with the Oshiwara Police Station, alleging that Makrand hurled abuses at her and even threatened to kill her. But the allegations made by the actress are surprising, as her boyfriend had thrown a lavish bash to celebrate her birthday recently. Not just that, the duo was very much a couple until last week!
The fights between the two infuriated after Makrand felt that Pratyusha was cheating on him and hence he wanted to resolve the problem. But Pratyusha refused to acknowledge his concerns and on the following day kept calling him relentlessly.
When Makrand avoided her calls, she complained to her father, who in turn threatened him to get him killed. The young businessman recorded the telephonic conversation and used the same for filing a counter complaint against Pratyusha.
The TV actress epitomised an ideal Indian woman as Anandi in ‘Balika Vadhu’ but she quit the show on the pretext that the hectic work schedules were taking a toll on her health.
Recently, Pratusha had conveyed to her fans that she would soon make a comeback to the small screen.

'Dhoom 3' teaser hints at Box Office 'dhoom'

New Delhi: One hot villain, and uber stylish bikes have been synonymous with Bollywood`s popular ‘Dhoom’ franchise -- and if the teaser of ‘Dhoom 3’ is anything to go by, Aamir Khan, who plays the baddie, will take the series forward with full speed.
Aamir showcases his chiselled body in full glory, and he vrooms away on the bike, performing daredevil stunts with what seems like the ease of a professional biker.
Unlike the previous two movies, which starred John Abraham and Hrithik Roshan as the bad guys, ‘Dhoom 3’ has gone international with a larger plot.
If the buzz for the third instalment of the Yash Raj Films` project was not enough already, the teaser, which was released online Wednesday, managed to build up more anticipation in the audiences` mind.
The teaser got uploaded on YouTube Sep 4 and has since then got over 150,000 views.
In response to the teaser on YouTube, messages like ‘Aamir is back’ and ‘Aamir power rules’ poured in.
One viewer posted, "Awesome movie! I will be watching this movie on first show", while a certain Rahul Bhardwaj posted: "This biker will beat the `Express`."
We will have to wait until Dec 20 to see whether ‘Dhoom 3’ manages to surpass the success of Shah Rukh Khan`s ‘Chennai Express’.
The teaser opens with the sound of a bike`s vrooming, and the camera then zooms in to show Aamir`s muscle power. He gives a poignant voiceover, and then begins the chase.
Abhishek Bachchan as supercop Jai Dixit is seen at his adventurous best suspended from a helicopter, while Uday Chopra as his right hand Ali, zips and zooms on his hi-tech bikes as usual.
Katrina Kaif adds the girl and glamour power -- and, boy, she looks athletic!
Overall, the stunts in the Vijay Krishna Acharya-directed movie look well executed -- especially that one shot where Aamir carefully skids his bike under a truck. A great escape indeed.
The past instalments have bagged hit status at the Box Office. Let`s hope this one creates as much `dhoom`.

Priyanka Chopra, Freida Pinto inspire Neetu Chandra

Mumbai: Bollywood actress Neetu Chandra is on a high ever since she joined the cast of Greek film ‘Home Sweet Home’. She believes it`s the best time to be a "global actor".
Chandra seeks inspiration from Indian actors Freida Pinto and Priyanka Chopra, who have carved a niche in international platforms. Freida earned fame with Oscar-winning movie ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, while Priyanka has made her singing debut internationally with two singles.
"Today, we stand as global actors. There is nothing like that an actor should do, Bollywood film or a Hollywood film. What is Priyanka doing? Look at her, she is an inspiration. Look at Freida Pinto... so today we are global actors you cannot just sit here and think of only Hindi films," Neetu said here in an interview.
Besides Hindi films like ‘Garam Masala’, ‘Traffic Signal’ and ‘No Problem’, Neetu has worked in Telugu projects.
The actress currently awaits the release of her Hindi films ‘Kusar Prasad Ka Bhoot’ and ‘Shooter’.

Ranbir-Pallavi wrapped up 'Lut gaye' in a day

New Delhi: Dancing seems to come naturally to ‘Besharam’ actors Ranbir Kapoor and Pallavi Sharda. The two will be seen grooving to wedding number, ‘Lut Gaye’ in the film, which they reportedly wrapped up in just a day.
"Director Abhinav Kashyap had kept three days aside for the shoot of the song, but to his and entire unit’s surprise, Ranbir and Pallavi finished the song in just one day. When they started shooting for the song, the two got in to the groove and decided to finish the song the same day," said a source from the film.
A peppy wedding number, ‘Lut Gaye’ is sung by Mamta Sharma and Aishwarya Nigam. Its music is composed by Lalit Pandit, while the lyrics are penned by Nikhat Khan.
Actress Pallavi Sharda, who was last seen in ‘Love Breakups Zindagi’ is said to be a trained classical dancer, and that made it easier for her to match her steps with Ranbir.
‘Besharam’ is a comedy film, which also stars Ranbir`s parents Rishi and Neetu Kapoor. The film will release Oct 2.

Teacher’s day special: Top Bollywood stars who played teachers

Teachers are always very special. They make learning a wonderful experience for the students.
We at Indiancolleges bring you top Bollywood stars who have enacted the role of teacher perfectly.
Naseeruddin Shah has the honour of playing the role of a teacher in two films Sir and Iqbal. In Sir he played the role of teacher perfectly and encouraged the students despite his personal problems. In the film Iqbal he played a cricket coach to a deaf and mute Shreyas Thalpade.
Amitabh Bachchan potrayal of a teacher to a deaf, mute and blind girl was perfect. He gave a stellar performance as a teacher.
Aamir Khan’s portrayal of an arts teacher left audiences misty-eyed. He played a perfect teacher to his Dyslexic student Darsheel Safary in Taare Zameen Par. He helps him get self-confidence back.
Sushmita Sen played the role of sexy and suave chemistry teacher to Shah Rukh Khan in Main Hoon Na. In the film, Shah Rukh Khan is completely smitten by her.
Shah Rukh Khan played a music teacher in the film Mohabbatein. He didn’t teach the students by the traditional means rather he became a confidante to his students.

Vishesh Films shot maximum films in South Africa: Mukesh Bhatt

Durban: He has made 63 films so far and out of them, nine were shot in South Africa, says filmmaker Mukesh Bhatt, whose last hit production venture ‘Aashiqui 2’ was also filmed in the country.
"Vishesh Films (his production house) has shot maximum films in South Africa. We have shot nine films in the country," Bhatt said Thursday at the South Africa India Film and Television Awards (SAIFTA) press conference.
He added that his "appetite for looking for different locations never ceases", and that works as a driving force in exploring new places.
Bhatt, who canned films like ‘Blood Money’ and ‘Crook’ and the recent blockbuster ‘Aashiqui 2’, in South Africa, said he enjoys the warmth and hospitality of people of Durban so much that he calls "Durban a home away from home".
And why not? Indian movies and music are popular among the locals, and a large number of Indian Diaspora resides here.
The Indian film industry is celebrating its 100 years and according to Bhatt, SAIFTA, an initiative by Mumbai-based event company Celebrity Locker and KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development and Tourism of Durban, will strengthen cultural ties between the two nations.
"We are now on a threshold of doing historical things together," said Bhatt, who is in the SAIFTA judges` panel along with Waheeda Rehman, Boman Irani, Farah Khan and Farhan Akhtar.
The award ceremony is Friday.

Bollywood News 5th September 2013

‘Jhalak Dikkhla Jaa’ semi-final gets the Kapoor punch!

Mumbai: The Kapoors - Rishi, Neetu and their son Ranbir, and actor Anil Kapoor - took the celebrity quotient on the semi-final weekend episodes dance reality show ‘Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 6’ to a new high.
Anil visited the show to promote his upcoming action-thriller ‘24, which is also his debut TV production, while Rishi, Neetu and Ranbir were there to create a buzz for forthcoming ‘Besharam’, which unites the trio on the big screen for the first time.
‘Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 6’ is judged by actress Madhuri Dixit, filmmaker Karan Johar and choreographer-director Remo D`Souza.
Anil and Madhuri recreated their old romance on the sets of the show by dancing to their popular songs ‘Dhak dhak’, ‘Koyal si teri boli’ and ‘Kehdo ki tum meri ho warna’.
‘Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 6’ is nearing its grand finale now, and there are five celebrity contestants left to fight it out for the trophy.
The top five contestants are actress Drashti Dhami, singer Shaan, dancers Lauren Gottlieb and Mukti Mohan, and ‘India`s Got Talent’ winners Sonali and Sumant.

Irrfan starrer 'Dabba' in London Film Festival competition

London: Director Ritesh Batra`s debut film ‘Dabba’ (The Lunchbox), starring Irrfan Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, will compete in the official competition section of this year`s London Film Festival.

‘Dabba’, which earlier won the critics’ week viewer’s choice award at the 66th Cannes film festival, is the only Indian film to make it to the 13-film shortlist at the fest here.
The film has been jointly produced by Guneet Monga and Anurag Kashyap among others.
Described as India`s hottest indie film of the year, ‘Dabba’ is based on the Mumbai`s dabbawalla delivery service known all over the world for its precision.
The film will face tough international competition from Jonathan Glazer`s "Under The Skin" starring Scarlett Johansson as a man-eating alien; ‘Parkland’, Peter Landesman`s film about events in Dallas, ‘Texas’ on the day former US President John F Kennedy was assassinated; and ‘Starred Up’ from British director David Mackenzie.
Some of the other Indian entries in this year`s line-up of 234 feature films from across 74 countries include ‘Jeevan Smriti’, Bengali filmmaker Rituparno Ghosh`s last complete feature before his sudden death in May. It is structured as a personal docu-drama around Ghosh`s admiration for legendary poet and writer Rabindranath Tagore.
Indo-Canadian production ‘Siddharth’ by director Richie Mehta and Buddhadeb Dasgupta`s ‘Anwar Ka Ajab Kissa’ (Sniffer) have been selected in the Journey category this year.
An Indian village also forms the backdrop of Bhutanese director Khyentse Norbu`s ‘Vara: A Blessing’, starring actress Shahana Goswami in the lead. It is based on Indian poet and novelist Sunil Gangppadhyaya`s short story and dedicated to Satyajit Ray`s classic `Charulata`.
‘From Gulf to Gulf to Gulf’, by directors Shaina Anand and Ashok Sukumaran, is a film based on real events and made up of videos of real events. It draws from years of dialogue and friendship between sailors travelling across the Arabian Sea from the Gulf of Kutch between India and Pakistan to the Persian Gulf.
The British Film Institute`s London Film Festival 2013, which will run from October 9 till 20, will be opened by Hollywood actor Tom Hanks with a gala screening of his film ‘Captain Phillips’.
The biopic, directed by Paul Greengrass, tells the story of Captain Richard Phillips who was taken hostage by Somali Pirates during the Maersk Alabama hijacking in 2009.
Hanks will also close the annual festival with ‘Saving Mr Banks’, the untold story of how the Disney classic ‘Mary Poppins’ made it to the screen.
Other big films to be screened across London cinemas next month include the sci-fi thriller ‘Gravity’, starring George Clooney and Sandra Bullock, the Coen Brothers` ‘Inside Llewyn Davis’ and the critically acclaimed lesbian drama, ‘Blue is the Warmest Colour’.
The festival will host 16 international premieres and 29 European premieres. There will also be screenings of 134 live action and animated shorts. 

Consent from original crew is the right way for remakes: Farhan Akhtar

Mumbai: Actor-director Farhan Akhtar, whose father-scriptwriter Javed has been embroiled in a legal battle with those remaking `Zanjeer`, says the right way to go about remakes is to take the consent of those associated with the original.

The remake of the 1973 Amitabh Bachchan-Jaya starrer has been in news regarding copyright and royalty issues. Both the original writers Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar who scripted it, have been fighting for intellectual rights of the new version.
Farhan has in the past, remade Bachchan`s superhit film `Don` (1978).
Speaking about the process of working on a remake, he said, "I have remade a film called `Don` and for that I had acquired rights from the producers and taken permission from writers. This is in my understanding is the right way to go about it. Everybody has their own way. The case is in court. I am sure they will decide who is right and who is wrong."
The remake of `Zanjeer` starring Ram Charan Teja and Priyanka Chopra will hit the screens tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Farhan, who is enjoying the success of `Bhaag Mikha Bhaag`, says it has given him a lot of choice, as people (filmmakers) around him are offering him various projects.
Farhan, who has proved himself in as an actor, filmmaker and producer, said he will take up anything that excites him.
"I am not planning my life, whatever comes my way I will do. I am working on scripting (as a director), reading scripts (as a producer and actor). So whatever excites me I will do it be it as an actor, director or producer," he added.
The 39-year-old actor enjoys acting and playing a variety of roles on screen. "This (acting) is something I am enjoying, playing different characters. As a director you end up giving a year or two for a film depending on the nature of the project. I am enjoying acting. I am not saying I am not directing."
He is also the brand ambassador for Intex mobiles and unveiled the company`s smart phone here yesterday.
On the launch, he said, "There are people who are choosy about the product they associate with while others choose to endorse multiple brands. I feel if you can use the image you have created for a brand and reach people it`s great. Like I choose a brand on the same basis the way I choose my films.

‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ set gets makeover

Mumbai: The set of popular game show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ has not just been changed geographically, but design-wise too. It will be a multimedia rectangular stage with LED lights.

The ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati 2013’ set will now be a magnificent 360 degree multimedia stage, making India the first ever country to change the ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’ set worldwide.
The round set has been transformed into a rectangular one with LED lights enhancing the aura of the set, said a statement.
It has also been shifted from Filmcity in Goregaon here to Yash Raj Films studio in Andheri West due to infrastructure reasons.
Hosted by megastar Amitabh Bachchan, the show has returned with changes in the jackpot prize and lifelines. The jackpot prize is bigger than ever at Rs. 7 crore.

‘Zanjeer’ boy Ram Charan teams up with Salman Khan?

Mumbai: Ram Charan, the son of actor-politician Chiranjeevi, is having a rocking time in B-Town. The Telugu actor, who is marking his emergence in Bollywood with Apoorva Lakhia’s ‘Zanjeer’, has reportedly landed a role in Salman Khan’s film.

According to the rumour mills, the young actor visited Salman’s residence on Monday to discuss the project which is slated to go on floor next year.
Ram’s first Hindi film is a remake of megastar Amitabh Bachchan’s namesake 1973 blockbuster produced by Prakash Mehra. He will be seen romancing Bollywood’s desi girl Priyanka Chopra.
The ‘Dabangg’ superstar is currently busy with his next, tentatively titled ‘Mental’ and reality show ‘Bigg Boss 7’. The industry heavyweight doesn’t have a Hindi movie release this year but will make his Marathi debut with ‘Lai Bhari’ which features Riteish Deshmukh in the lead role

Life doesn't stop at Box Office numbers: Farhan Akhtar

Mumbai: Actor-filmmaker Farhan Akhtar, whose last film ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’ reaped gold at the Box Office, believes that minting money is one parameter to measure a film`s success, but numbers are not the be-all-and-end-all of film making.

At an event here, Farhan was asked if he is an actor who keeps a track of the numbers that his movies make.
He said: "Not to the extent that it drives me crazy. When you work on your film, you want it to do well and one barometer of knowing whether your film is doing well or not is the box office.
"The other is how people are talking about it, then how many years after it has released people still remember it, which is also another level of success. So that`s one aspect of it that you like to know. But is your happiness only going to be based on this and life not move on if you don`t get those numbers? You have to move on."
The 39-year-old spoke on the sidelines of the launch function of a new handset by Intel here Wednesday.
Farhan`s latest film ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’ crossed the Rs.100 crore mark at the Box office and the film was even declared tax-free.

Andhra police told to provide security for 'Zanjeer'

Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh High Court Thursday directed the police to provide security for the smooth release and screening of Hindi film ‘Zanjeer’ and its Telugu version ‘Toofan’ starring actor Ram Charan, son of Union Tourism Minister K. Chiranjeevi.

The court asked the director general of police to provide necessary security to theatres screening the two movies throughout the state from Friday.
‘Zanjeer’ and ‘Toofan’, starring Ram Charan and Priyanka Chopra in lead roles, are set to be released across the state, currently witnessing political turmoil over the decision to carve out separate Telangana state.
Reliance Big Entertainment Pvt. Ltd had moved the court seeking directions to the government to take steps for smooth screening of the two films in view of threats from some quarters.
The petitioner feared obstacles to the screening of the movies in the wake of these threats.
Reliance entertainment informed the court that it has invested several crores of rupees to produce, market and distribute the movies. The company said it had already signed contracts with several theatres for screening the films.
The company moved the court as its representation to the police did not evoke any response.
Some groups in Seemandhra (Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra) have threatened to disrupt screening of the movies to protest what they call Chiranjeevi`s failure to oppose strongly the proposed bifurcation of the state.
The movies may also face problems in Telangana, where some groups alleged that Chiranjeevi was trying to stall the formation of a separate state.
In the past, films of Chiranjeevi, his brother Pawan Kalyan and Ram Charan have had to face the ire of pro-Telangana groups.

Sridevi - the female Rajinikanth in Japan?

Bollywood’s first female superstar- Sridevi- has done a Rajinikanth in Japan! Thanks to a preview and festival screening of her comeback film ‘English Vinglish’. What`s more, the film has not even been released there as yet!

Apparently, the theme of an Asian woman struggling with the English language has struck a universal chord in Japan. And the Japanese women, themselves driven to despair by the linguistic discrepancies of the diasporas, have embraced the film in a big way.
Now, they want to meet Sridevi before the film gets a Japanese release in December.
Speaking from Tokyo where he is currently visiting to launch the film, producer R. Balki said: "The response is terrific. Every Japanese women identifies with Sridevi. The Japanese love the film. Anyone and everyone who has seen it has connected immediately with the theme of linguistic barricading."
On the evening of Sep 1, ‘English Vinglish’ was screened in Tokyo`s Aichi Women`s Film Festival. Later, it will get an all-Japan commercial release.
"We are planning a very wide Japanese release. The distributors in Japan think this is the first Indian after the films of Rajinikanth that the Japanese will connect with in such a huge way," Balki said in an excited tone.
He said the movie, directed by his wife Gauri Shinde, would get the biggest release ever in Japan for an Indian film.
"We are planning a major release here in Japan. It would be the biggest ever release in Japan for any Indian film," he added.
Such is the demand in Japan to meet Sridevi that producer Eros Entertainment plan to take the actress to Tokyo and other cities later this year.
"The Japanese identify with all the linguistic insecurities of Sridevi`s character Shashi. If you cut away the spice and chillies in our food, we are exactly the same as the Japanese," he said.
Balki says the demand to meet Sridevi in Japan is deafening.
"Gauri and Sridevi have become very popular here. The word on the film in Japan is very strong. Sridevi must come to Japan," said the filmmaker.

Hollywood latest News 5th September

Who Cares That 'Twerk' Was Added to the Dictionary?

Is it a coincidence that Miley's VMA performance coincided with Oxford Dictionary Online's addition of "twerk" to its collection? It seems that dictionaries are trying to make themselves relevent in an online world, but I wonder what new additions like "twerk," "phablet," and "srsly" are really contributing.

The Atlantic recently looked into the words that were added to the dictionary in the '90s. For every "geek" and "icon", there is an obsolete "mouse potato" and "infobahn." The dictionary did not help preserve the latter words; they are now only funny memories of a past that was squinting into a technology-filled future.

What distinguishes a traditional dictionary from more colloquial internet references, such as Urban Dictionary? It has traditionally been a matter of authority–the dictionary knows about real English. It knows less about slang and acronyms. Of course, certain slang does withstand the test of time, but I don't think twerk has proven itself yet. And the dictionary's choices seem arbitrary. It may now have "TL;DR" and "derp," but it doesn't have "upvote" and "LMFAO." It's not the dictionary's job to be hip, and it makes it seem even stuffier when it tries to be.

Review: 'Riddick' Is Shockingly Interesting, Shockingly SexistUniversal Pictures

A ludicrous script is usually the hurdle you find yourself trying to jump in an effort to enjoy an action-heavy science fiction in the character of Riddick. Surprisingly, it isn't the story that holds Vin Diesel's third Richard Riddick movie back, but what launches it forward through a dust cloud of other shortcomings and malfeasances. Kicking off with a wordless first act involving the lone criminal's determination to survive on a wasteland planet and progressing very gradually toward and through an intergalactic bounty hunter team's stakeout for the wanted man, we find ourselves adhering reluctantly to the slow-burning but densely packed drama. It'll get you. The claustrophic, death-on-the-horizon mission facing the band of lowlifes hunting down Riddick — and the intercepting troupe of more ostensibly "righteous" law enforcement officials (there's a guy who speaks calmly, a woman, and a kid who prays, so you know they're the good ones) — coughs up pissing contests, gender politics, and strategy debates in the valley of meaty sociological sci-fi like classic Star Trek episodes. Meanwhile, Diesel is hiding out in the adjacent caves, plotting his next move.
After a uniquely primal introductory chapter, wherein we're engrossed by the vivid hell that is "Not Furya" (Riddick's affectionate name for the world within which he is prisoner) in the same way that we connect to the first chapter of 2001: A Space Odyssey, we're relieved to welcome in some new characters (and, of course, actual dialogue). While Diesel can muster charisma taunting Jordi Mollà's bounty hunter creep Santana or Matt Nable's stoic (with a breaking point) officer Johns, he's not the sort of actor who can carry long stretches of wordless, pensive survival on his own. Luckily, he gets a dog pretty early on, so that picks things up a bit.
Universal Pictures
But problems are not absent when the film duodecuples its population. Once the talking kicks up, so does the occasional weaving of mythos. Even those familiar with the old films will find themselves boggled by the convoluted, cantankerous backstory building that pops in obligatorily, wishing that the film would just get back to the quavering stakeout. However, there is a far bigger issue at hand.
While the heated issues presented Within the tiny world of the battling teams sent to the planet to hunt down Riddick are a banquet for the viewer, some of the problems actually traverse beyond the screen, and All of them involve sole female player Katee Sackhoff and her character Dahl. It says everything that the only woman in this film bears a handle that is homophonous to "Doll." While we can expect the no nonsense officer to be treated with a dearth of respect (and worse) by money hungry, lustful bounty man Santiago, the film itself doesn't seem to have a much more forgivable attitude toward the character, her gender, or her sexual orientation (which is, inscrutably, one of the most revisited topics of conversation).
Present through the movie as soon as Dahl steps onscreen, Riddick's misogyny will get in the way of its otherwise enjoyable and interesting foray into gritty sci-fi, but stands as its sole indefensible problem. Had a more diligent, progressive eye in the edit bay relinquished David Twohy's screenplay of this outrageously persistent repulsion, we might have a film altogether triumphant. With a cherished character readily available for returning fans and a new stock of interesting set-ups for any genre aficionado, not to mention palpable tension — and, yes, the dog — Riddick really only suffers from its misshapen approaches toward gender and sexuality. It's one problem, but it's a damn big one.

Lily Allen’s Most Scathing Putdowns

Youtube

Seemingly devoid of the filter that makes most media-trained pop stars mind-numbingly inoffensive, Lily Allen became renowned just as much for her motormouth as her distinctive brand of confessional pop before she ‘retired’ from the music industry in 2010. Her many rivals may have enjoyed several years of respite from her vicious tongue. But they should now be gearing themselves up for some more home truths after the 28-year-old confirmed her comeback with the launch of a new official website last month. Here’s a look at Lily at her 'keeping it real' best.
The Pussycat Dolls were one of the first major names to feel the wrath of Lily Allen in a blatant case of pot calling the kettle black in 2006:
"I've got a really big problem with the Pussycat Dolls, because I think they're a really bad role model for little girls...they're too skinny, take all their clothes off, don't say anything, promote womanising and look like lapdancers as far as I'm concerned."
Having recorded an ironic tribute to Cheryl Cole for the B-side to debut single "Smile," Allen then retaliated in typically brutal fashion after the Girls Aloud star described her as a "chick with a d**k."
"Cheryl, if you're reading this, I may not be as pretty as you, but at least I write and sing my own songs without the aid of Auto-Tune. I must say, taking your clothes off, doing sexy dancing and marrying a rich footballer must be very gratifying, your mother must be so proud, stupid b**ch."
Grime artist Lady Sovereign found herself on the receiving end of Lily's fury in 2007 after claiming that she owed all her success to her actor father, Keith Allen:
"In response to Miss Sovereign's comments, I've spoken to my dad and he says he'd be happy to adopt you if you think it will give you a leg up."
Katy Perry later apologised for the "I’m a thinner version of Lily Allen" comment she made during a British radio interview, but not before the target of her jibe bit back:
"I happen to know for a fact that she was an American version of me...I think the lyrics and stuff are a bit crass...It's like, you're not English and you don't write your own songs, shut up!"
Lily took on the ultimate pop star diva, Sir Elton John, in 2008 after he made fun of her tipsy state at the GQ Men Of The Year Awards:
"F*** off Elton, I'm 40 years younger than you. I have my whole life ahead of me."
Lily unofficially spoke up for every celebrity whose photo has been defaced on Perez Hilton’s trashy gossip site during her first major Twitter spat in 2009:
"Go away you little parasite...you cheap-ass whore."
After a lengthy Twitter battle in which Azealia Banks described Allen as a one-hit wonder and her children as 'ugly,' Lily delivered the knockout punch with this inspired summary of the rapper's hesitant career approach:
"ive had 2 kids since [Banks' 2011 debut single] 212 dropped and i bet my my album still comes out 1st. b**ch is scared of the ball. OUT."

DVR Me: A Big Week of Premieres

Tired of Sunny reruns? Miss The League? Well fear not because those are just a few of the shows premiering this week. Oh yeah, the NFL is back too. Perhaps I should have mentioned that first?

Rolling Stone recently called this Aaron Sorkin drama, now in its second season on HBO, the "best bad show ever." That may only be partially true. The show's characters seem to be too smart for their own good -- no one is ever wrong -- but Sorkin's trademark, rapid-fire dialogue is as sharp as its ever been.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
The crew at Paddy's Pub are back for a ninth season, and this year someone dies! Actually, no, that's not true, but given the taboo subject material on past seasons (abortion, suicide, and cannibalism, to name a few), it would definitely not be the most shocking subject the show ever poked fun at.
The League
The show about a dimwitted group of fantasy nerds (as in the NFL version) returns just in time for football season. After four seasons on the original channel, The League will debut its fifth season on FX's recently launched sister station, FXX.
Boardwalk Empire
Last year saw the introduction, and demise, of Gyp Rosetti (a flawless Bobby Canavale), one of the most compelling mobsters to have ever graced the small screen (we're talking Tony Soprano caliber!). The most recent season of Boardwalk  will be pretty hard to top. But I'll be one of many watching.
Ravens vs. Broncos
Are you ready for some football? Sorry, dumb question. The NFL kicks off the regular season Thursday night with last year's Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens taking on Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos. On second thought, you might want to watch this one live.

Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey Will Get Dark in HBO's 'True Detective'

"Around here, darkness lives on both sides of the law."
HBO’s moody new cop series True Detective will start this January according to HBO. The Bayou-based drama features Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson as Louisiana detectives attempting to catch a serial killer. If you haven’t already seen the wonderfully atmospheric teaser trailer released in June, do yourself a favor and watch it now.
While the clip is short, it's filled with great scenes of muddy wetlands, delapidated buildings, and creepy messages.  It’s simply drenched with tension and certainly makes Louisiana seem like a great setting for a dreary murder mystery. A full-length trailer for the series will premiere right before the season 4 premiere of Boardwalk Empire this Sunday. While there's no firm date in January for the premiere as of yet, winter can't come fast enough.

True Detectives continues the recent trend of television studios attracting big name talent to the small screen. Television is quickly becoming a prime destination for stars who are serious about making quality work, and flexing acting muscles they haven't had to use in a while. Matthew McConaughey, especially, is having a bit of a career renniscense as of late, appearing in critically acclaimed films such as, the small-town murder drama Bernie, the indie Mud, the black comedy Killer Joe, and the stripper drama Magic Mike.  Let's hope True Detective is more in line with those films than it is with something like Fool's Gold.

Oops!: Local News Station Hangs Up on Oprah

WENN

Few things are as precious as getting the chance to talk to Oprah. It should really be on everybody’s bucket list. It’s like meeting Jesus if Jesus was a billionaire talk-show personality. When her royal highness of all televised media descends on your tiny hovel of a local news station and graces her with her presence, you sit, listen, and sell her as many handbags as you can.
When Chicago’s WGN Morning News team got the chance to dish with Oprah about her OWN network, by human error or some unfair twist of fate, the phone call cuts off, interrupting Oprah mid-sentence. The gob smacked anchors are left with nothing but dial tone and failure hanging in the air. What follows is a flurry of blaming and self-pity. One anchor even jokingly laments “How do we cut off the one guest we’ve had that people might be interested in watching?” The whole thing is just hilarious. Luckily, Oprah is a great sport about it, calling the station back a few minutes later and joking with them about the mishap. The news crew also takes the mistake in stride, even taking a few playful jabs at Oprah herself. All in all, everything turns out well, and the video of the incident is sure to give the station more attention than an error-free interview would ever recieve.

Is Scarlett Johansson engaged to journalist beau?

Wellington: Speculations are rife that Scarlett Johansson is planning to tie the knot with her French journalist boyfriend Romain Dauriac.
According to People magazine, the couple is engaged and are very happy, Stuff.co.nz reported.
A source had claimed that Dauriac, former editor of French magazine Clark, had proposed to the actress about a month ago and he is thought to have presented her with a vintage art deco ring.
The `Under the Skin` star, who divorced actor Ryan Reynolds in 2011, was recently spotted wearing the piece of jewellery on her left hand`s ring finger.
Earlier, the blonde beauty had asserted that she was thinking about settling down and having kids but for now she was enjoying discovering more about herself.

Alessandra Ambrosio enjoys in red bikini

Los Angeles: Supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio was spotted having a gala time with her beau Jamie Mazur over the weekend in a red bikini.

The 32-year-old showed off her slim figure and toned stomach in the two-piece swimsuit in Malibu during the family outing Aug 1, reports eonline.com.
She was also accompanied by her five-year-old daughter Anja.
Ambrosio was also seen playing a game of beach volleyball with some friends. The model also shared a picture of her with two other models on the beach, on the micro-blogging website Twitter.
"Summer is not over yet! Loving the LA weather!" she tweeted.

'The Walking Dead' 101: University of California, Irvine Is Offering a Class on the Zombie Drama

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Having majored in creative writing at a half-cocked state school in a meth-laden valley county, I never found college to be the academic shark pool that some others have experienced. But even with a final semester class roster that included poetry writing and sitcom analysis, I can't help but feel as though I've been robbed of the greatest slack-off class that the American education system may have ever put into action: Society, Science, Survival: Lessons from AMC's The Walking Dead. The University of California, Irvine is kicking off its fall semester with a course that is described as (via TVLine) "a broad range of scholarly topics through the lens of a hypothetical zombie apocalypse." The class will last eight weeks, cater to students domestic and otherwise — you can sign up here — and will mold the minds of the eager survivalist who wishes to emulate the wisdom of Rick, the tenacity of Glen, or the sulking adorability of Daryl.

Granted, something useful might very well derive from the class. The Walking Dead is dense with philosophical questions about the nature of humanity and right vs. wrong. The show tests the values of its characters in the most demanding of climates and scenarios, charging viewers to wonder what they themselves would cherish so deeply in a world like the one painted onscreen. And of course, there's also the issue of how long you can wear a single shirt before tossing it. (It's not just a matter of hygiene, but you've got to keep a fresh image!)

'Arrow' Season 2 Teaser: Watch Stephen Amell's Oliver Show Off His Sharp Weapons...And Sharper Abs

On Oct. 9 Arrow, and hooded justice, returns to the CW. Stephen Amell is back as Oliver Queen, Starling City's billionaire playboy turned nocturnal quiver-wielding vigilante, the Green Arrow. And judging by this new teaser, Oliver's going to be in for a quite a Season 2. There are shots of sharp weapons and sharper abs, all leading to that immortal slogan "When the hood goes up..." Unfortunately, there's no sign of The Flash, who's been confirmed to be a part of the new episodes, but there's more than enough to get you excited. Check it out.
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Ben Affleck Gambles with His Career in 'Runner Runner' Trailer

Remember two months ago when we all loved Ben Affleck? I know it's hard, but really try to think back. Argo? The Town? Sound familiar? Well, trust me, before all of this Batman business, we couldn't get enough Affleck. He had just won a Best Picture Oscar and was on top of the world. It's like he was willing people to forget about his past stumbles. As if he made Gone Baby Gone just so people would stop making fun of Daredevil, like he made The Town in some attempt to excise Jersey Girl from existence. Affleck was going to take back his career by force. And with Argo, he had finally done it. He was a respected figure of Hollywood again... for a little while anyway...
Perception is weird like that. Your worth is never a tally of your life's work, taking in equal measures your successes and failures, but what you've done lately. Ben Affleck was the king of Hollywood for a few months after his Academy-swaying picture. And now, he's the butt of everyone's bad Batman jokes. He might as well have announced Gigli 2: Electric Boogaloo.
20th Century Fox
Now we have the trailer for Runner Runner, a new crime drama staring Affleck and Justin Timberlake, and it feels like Ben is going backwards. The trailer features Affleck as the kingpin of a gambling ring who takes a young JT under his wing just in time for the whole thing to go belly-up. Not just the story, but this trailer itself seems destined for failure. Even the choice of music is just downright bizarre. Is it serious, or tongue-in-cheek? Did anyone really want to revisit J-Kwon's 2004 so-called classic "Tipsy"? Does anyone even remember who J-Kwon is? Why is this song featured in the trailer for a crime drama? Couldn't they have chosen a cooler, more relevant rap song? The whole thing would just be generic if it didn’t manage to be so weird at the same time.
With all of this in mind, we hold hope that Runner Runner far exceeds expectation. But if you are a fan of Mr. Affleck, you might want to be a little worried. If Runner Runner tanks, and then the Superman/Batman film is as bad as its predecessor, there might be no coming back for Ben. No matter how many Argos he makes.

Interview: The ‘Ghost Ghirls’ Tell All — EXCLUSIVE

Bridging the world between horror and comedy the new web series Ghost Ghirls finds humor in the ghouslish. The show, executive produced by Jack Black and premiering on Yahoo! September 9th, stars Amanda Lund and Maria Blasucci as two hapless paranormal investigators.

Hollywood.com was lucky enough to commune with Lund and Blasucci about how Ghost Ghirls came about, whether they believe in the supernatural, and how they managed to get so many famous faces to haunt the online series.
How did the idea for Ghost Ghirls originate?
Lund: Maria and I had been wanting to work with Jeremy Konner on a project for a while. We are all fans of the paranormal genre and thought it would be interesting to see these characters within it.
Blasucci: So the three of us wrote up a little ten page script and went out and shot it. It is so much fun writing for these characters.
How did Jack Black get involved in the project? What was it like working with him?
Blasucci: Jeremy had known Jack Black for a while having worked as his assistant and the director of the Tenacious D documentary. Jack has always been really supportive of Jeremy and as soon as we brought it to him, Jack jumped onboard. Working with him was an absolute dream. He is the nicest and most caring guy.
Lund: Working with him was unreal! He has been so supportive. He showed up to set almost everyday while we were filming and called in a bunch of his famous pals to play parts. Really, I've learned so much by working with Jack Black. His enthusiasm and positivity are really contagious. We lucked out.

Who was your favorite celebrity guest star to work with?
Lund: This is tough! We had so many amazing people! It was pretty mind-blowing to work with Val Kilmer. Having Val, Dave Grohl and Jack Black on set all at once was like a beautiful dream I didn't want to wake up from. I think we shot like a 16 hour day when they were all there but no one cared because it was so amazing to watch them jam. (They were playing a Southern Rock Band). That was the most magical moment of filming.
Blasucci: All of the guest stars were so gracious and wonderful. Molly Shannon was really lovely and hilarious and Bob Odenkirk brought so much life to his character. He made the character so much richer than we could have imagined. I do love working with Jason Ritter. He did our pilot presentation and is in another episode as well. Having him and Jason Schwartzman on set was hilarious.
What was it like taking the show to San Diego Comic Con?
Lund : I had never been to Comic Con and didn't know what to expect! I couldn't believe that so many people came out to see our panel. I think we got a really good response actually. I feel like the Comic Con audience is really open and enthusiastic when it comes to new shows so it was cool to hear some positive feedback. I wish I had brought a costume to wear because I felt so stupid in my shorts when everyone else was in sweet capes and stuff.
Blasucci: I agree with everything Amanda said... except she wasn't wearing shorts. That was a lie.

Do you believe in ghosts? Have you ever seen a ghost?
Lund: I've had a few seemingly paranormal experiences. When I was nine I thought I saw the ghost of my grandpa coming out of my bedroom ceiling. However, I had an extremely active imagination. I had like a dozen imaginary friends as well and had a lot of strange conspiracy
theories.
Blasucci: I believe in ghosts. Why not, right? It's more fun to believe. I've never seen one though. I'm afraid of seeing one.
I'm going to steal a line from Scream: What's your favorite scary movie?
Blasucci: I'm going to steal from your question and say Scream.
Lund: I love scary movies! I'm drawn toward the classic, slow-burning ones like Rosemary's Baby or The Omen. But don't get me wrong, the Scream films and I Know What You Did Last Summer are close to my heart.

Why should viewers be excited to watch?

Lund: Because Ghost Ghirls has something for everyone! It's funny...it's scary...it's full of amazing guest stars! And it's short and free!
Blasucci: We find it to be a really entertaining show with a lot of heart. So check it out!

Top 5 Comedy Central Roast Moments

Seen enough of James Franco? Well, too bad! In lieu of his recent Comedy Central outing, we countdown five of the best roast moments in history...none of which feature Franco. Turns out I've seen enough of him too.

Comedy Central
1. Gilbert GottfriedGilbert Gottfried was the last comedian to perform at the 2001 roast of Hugh Hefner, and killed it with a foul-mouthed version of "The Aristocrats." Rob Schneider's reaction is absolutely priceless.
2. Courtney LoveShe may have told the audience she was one year into sobriety, but Courtney Love was clearly on something during this 2005 roast of Pam Anderson. Watch how she nearly trips on her way to the microphone.
3. Norm MacDonaldKnown for his oddball style of comedy, Norm MacDonald lifted the majority of his set from a 1950s joke book. Only a deadpan comic like Norm can make the unfunny absolutely hilarious.
4. Snoop DoggThe multi-talented Doggfather railed on everyone from Larry King to Roastmaster Seth MacFarlane at this 2011 roast of Donald Trump, proving to be one of the more surprisingly funny acts of the night.
5. Roseanne
She may have been the roastee, but Roseanne's decision to sing the final two lines of the Star-Spangled Banner – thus redeeming herself once and for all after her embarrassing rendition of the same song at a 1990 San Diego Padres game – was clearly the highlight of the night.

Toronto Film Festival 2013: 5 Movies With Oscar Chances

Here is our pick of five films from the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) that we think have a shot at going on to get Oscar recognition: from Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Amy Adams and Bradley Cooper, among others, in the family drama August: Osage County  to the real-life story of a New York musician drugged and sold into slavery in 12 Years A Slave.  TIFF runs September 5-15. For more on the buzz-worthy films and our other picks, read the story at Studio System News.