Saturday, April 30, 2011

Pregnant Jessica Alba unites with Jessica Biel for cancer run

Hollywood Actress Jessica Alba and Jessica Biel joined thousands of charity runners in Times Square today to show their support for the Revlon’s annual women's cancer fund raiser.

The Hollywood actresses delighted fans when they arrived at the Revlon charity run in New York to participate in the beauty brand's 14th Annual Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) Revlon Run/Walk.

Both Jessicas are Global Brand Ambassadors for Revlon and have fronted numerous advertising campaigns for the beauty brand through the years.

Pregnant Alba, 30, stepped up on to the event stage to speak out about the dangers of women’s cancer.

Dressed in cute black workout leggings, trainers and an oversized Revlon EIF event T-shirt, she cheerfully trotted across the stage talking openly about the importance of the Revlon event’s 14th year.

Alba had just celebrated her 30th birthday two days earlier and looked to be in exceptionally high spirits as she skipped across the Revlon stage, exposing her growing baby bump through her T-shirt.

The Fantastic Four star expressed her delight at being apart of the event today when she tweeted: ‘The energy here @revlon run/walk is amazing 20,000 people are here to participate. This is 14th year & we've raised over $60million for women’s cancer!’

Sadly, the newly single Jessica Biel, 29, was a little under par after falling ill a few days earlier.

The stunning A-Team actress did all she could to get well in time for the charity event having been feeling a little under the weather recently.

Earlier this morning, she called on her fans to help her get better by tweeting: ‘Still trying to recover from my sickness. Going to the doctors today! Pray for me! Positive attitude - I'm sure I will be fine!!’

Although Biel didn’t say exactly what was wrong with her, she did manage to make it to the charity event and smiled happily for the camera with her pregnant co-Ambassador, Alba.

Perhaps a dose of charitable work was just Biel needed as she later replied to a get well tweet with: ‘Thanks. Feeling like my old self, still some minor issues!’

Bruce Willis & Demi Moore’s Daughter Tallulah Caught With Alcohol

The 17-year-old daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, Tallulah Belle Willis, was caught by the LAPD on Friday night in possession of alcohol. It all happened on when police officers spotted three teenage females getting out of a a vehicle at about 11PM with two bottles of alcohol on the Hollywood beat. The police quickly realized that they were well under the age of 21 and were cited for underage drinking. The teenagers were given tickets.

At that point, the LAPD called the parents of the teenagers to come pick them up. In particular, Tallulah decided to call her father Bruce to pick her up from the police station, but it was her mother Demi who decided to pick her daughter up instead. Photographers were of course present, capturing shots of Tallulah wearing very short shorts and a strapless bikini top. During some of the snapshots, she was shown smoking a cigarette and exposing her tattoo just under her belly.

I Am Not Comfortable Going N*de: Priyanka Chopra

Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra, who donned a bikini in Dostana, says she is not comfortable going nude.

"When it comes to drawing a line at my individuality, nudity is something I am not comfortable with," Priyanka told reporters after launching the book Age of Sinnocence at MTV's Youth Marketing Forum here.

However, the actress said she was open to kiss her female co-stars on screen.

"I would love to kiss an actress on screen...but she should be hot," she quipped.

To a query on model Poonam Pandey, who had expressed her willingness to go nude for the Indian World Cup winning cricketers, Priyanka said, "The main thing is she did not go nude. She did not do what she had said."

"It is her life she can do whatever she wants to," she added.

Friday, April 29, 2011

'The Hangover 2' Release Threatened Over Tattoo Accusation

"The Hangover Part II" faces a problem less than a month before it hits theaters. S. Victor Whitmill, a tattoo artist who gave Mike Tyson his distinctive facial art, is suing Warner Bros. Pictures over the similar-looking facial ink on Ed Helms' face, and asking for an injunction to stop the movie's release.

A complaint has been filed on Thursday, April 28 in federal court in St. Louis. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the statement read, "When Mr. Whitmill created the Original Tattoo, Mr Tyson agreed that Mr. Whitmill would own the artwork and thus, the copyright in the Original Tattoo."

"Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc. - without attempting to contact Mr. Whitmill, obtain his permission, or credit his creation - has copied Mr. Whitmill's Original Tattoo and placed it on the face of another actor...," the statement continued. "This unauthorized exploitation of the Original Tattoo constitutes copyright infringement."

Also being attached to the lawsuit was Whitmill's copyright registration for the "Original Tattoo", and Tyson's signature as a proof that the ex-champ granted rights in the work. In addition the document, some pictures of Whitmill applying the design on Tyson's face were included.

In trailers and posters for the second installment of the comedy, Helms sports a body art while enduring the hilarious situation in Bangkok. Helm's tattoo looks like Tyson's, and was also chiseled on the same spot as Tyson's. Tyson himself made an appearance in "The Hangover" as himself, chasing the main characters after they stole his tiger.

On another "The Hangover 2" news, Ken Jeong has recently posted on his Twitter page a new poster for the movie. The actor wrote, "Latest poster for The Hangover Part II...." , before attaching the new picture.

"The Hangover 2" is scheduled for May 26 release across the nation during Memorial Day weekend. The gang from the first film are in Bangkok to celebrate Stu's wedding when they discover themselves in another state of black-out.

Also reprising their roles as Helms' buddies are Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, and Justin Bartha. Jamie Chung, Nick Cassavetes and Juliette Lewis are among actors supporting the movie. Todd Phillips returns to serve behind the lens.

The Hangover Part-II New Trailer

Film Review: `Thor`, Hollywood extravaganza at its shiniest best

It will go down in history as the most elaborately planned movie franchisee, spanning years and different movies (including sequels) and multiple characters with individual films. And despite knowing that such an extravaganza can be possible only from the marriage of one between Marvel and Hollywood, you continue to marvel at it. The latest marvelous addition to this collection is "Thor".

Thor (Chris Hemsworth), the son of Odin (Anthony Hopkins) a god, grows up to be a warrior too arrogant of his strength to maintain a fragile peace in the kingdom. Seeing his arrogance Odin takes his power and casts him to earth so he can learn to be humble.

Devoid of his power and unable to even move his weapon, a hammer forged from a dying star, he, with the help of a kind scientist Jane (Natalie Portman) learns the value of life and a humility and in the end is ready to sacrifice himself to save his friends.

"Thor" was a dangerous gamble for Marvel. He is not one of the popular characters among the avengers. To dedicate and entire movie, some would have said, was foolhardy. But the film "Thor" amply illustrates that if the will is right, creativity can indeed be brought to be a good slave.

"Thor" is Hollywood extravaganza at its best. It is expected of a film of this magnitude to have good effects. However, the film understands that the effects have to serve the story and not mask a nonexistent one. To bring out human elements in a story about gods, takes skill.

Also the costumes, set design and magical elements are put up in such a way as to make the clan of gods look like and advanced alien race rather than a magical race of gods. That gives the story a science fiction angle, like the other films in the Avengers` series, "Iron Man" and "Hulk", and the upcoming "Captain America", instead of a mythical, magical dimension that would not have fit in with the others.

Chris Hemsworth has gained more than few pounds for his role as Thor. From his impish arrogance of "Star Trek" to the magnificent arrogance of a god, he has come a long way both as an actor and as a star.

The film would delight fans of Avengers and Marvel comics with its hidden references. So we see the agent Coulson from SHIELD we first encountered in "Iron Man"; Samuel L. Jackson makes a unaccredited appearance after the end credits; and there`s reference to Tony Stark, Jeremy Rainer in a small cameo is set up to be "Hawk Eye" in the "Avengers" and Loki is set up to the arch-enemy for the "Avengers".

The Marvel master, Stan Lee too makes an appearance in a funny cameo. Fans should sit through the last credits, for a minute extra that has become an USP of this series.

"Thor" makes a good metaphor against vanity. One should not be too proud to be strong and that wisdom is worth aspiring for. Hope Marvel would have the wisdom to continue with good cinema in the next "Captain America" and "Avengers" offerings.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Insurance nightmare

Worst property insurance idea of the year: Gov. Rick Scott’s reported plan to eliminate or shrink Citizens Property Insurance by leaving its 1.3 million policyholders at the mercy of a problematic private market and the unregulated “surplus lines” market where the sky’s the limit on premiums.

Over the weekend, a report in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune that was compiled from multiple documents and sources said the current Citizens bill in the Legislature originated with a notion by the Governor’s Office to completely phase out Citizens. This week, Brian Burgess, Scott’s spokesman, said the governor never supported that plan.

If this is what the governor ever had in mind, he’s smart to back away. The bill under consideration in the Legislature is bad enough, but drastically shrinking or eliminating Citizens at this time would be a disaster for Florida residents and businesses.

The report said even insurance industry lobbyists at a secret meeting with the governor’s staff in February were appalled because the private insurance market can’t absorb policies from those million-plus Citizens policyholders. The only option for many beleaguered consumers would be the surplus lines market, where rates are unregulated and not backed by a state guarantee fund.

A frustrated Sen. Mike Fasano, Republican of New Port Richey, called the governor “clueless” regarding the plight of policyholders who every year must face steeply rising windstorm insurance costs far out of line with inflation, not to mention salaries and incomes.

In the Senate, SB 1714, sponsored by Sen. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, would increase rates for customers of Citizens up to 25 percent a year and force some policyholders out of the program. A House version caps the increases at 15 percent. The current limit is “only” 10 percent, and there’s talk of a compromise at 20 percent. That may be Tallahassee’s idea of a compromise; from the standpoint of policyholders, it’s price gouging.

Supporters of rate increases say Citizens has gotten far too big and, in case of a hurricane disaster, would leave every insurance consumer in Florida holding the bag for billions of dollars in claims that the state insurer must repay by adding new surcharges to future policies for years to come. That’s on top of existing surcharges for previous years of disastrous storms.

Shrinking Citizens is a worthy goal, but simply putting the monkey on the backs of policyholders is the wrong approach. Meanwhile, the private market has significant problems that the Legislature is ignoring. Citizens was created because the private market won’t touch vast areas of the state. Making Citizens less competitive with private insurance by raising rates serves only to punish policyholders who can’t get coverage elsewhere. Insurance companies don’t want their business to begin with.

The state has relaxed regulation to lure private companies into the market, but many of them cover billions of dollars of property but have only a few million dollars in the bank. In 2009, Florida led the nation with six property insurance companies going bust, even though the state has not suffered a serious hurricane hit in several years.

Unlike big companies like, say, Allstate and State Farm, companies with inadequate reserves are making hay while the sun shines — raking in premiums while there’s no disaster — but will be unable to withstand the flood of claims that accompany a big hurricane.

That’s where the focus of state lawmakers should be, along with other shortcomings in the market. Gov. Scott said during his campaign that he wanted to return Citizens to its original mission of being the insurer of last resort, instead of being the No. 1 insurer in the state. Good, but any proposal that allows price gouging is not a plan. It’s an insult.

New York Injury Attorney News: Man struck, killed by city bus in Bronx

76-year-old man was struck by a city bus at the intersection of Castle Hill Ave. and Starling Ave in the Bronx and crushed to death, as reported by New York Daily News. The man, who was on his way to buy groceries, was the father of 10, according to police. New York Injury Attorney Jonathan C. Reiter stated the victim has been identified as Eddie Cortes.

The city bus involved in the auto accident that caused the death of Eddie Cortes did not stop, according to police, possibly because the driver did not know he struck a pedestrian. Police officers stopped six city buses on the BX22 line in attempts to find the offending driver, but to no avail, according to reports received by New York Injury Attorney J.C. Reiter.

Witnesses and grieving relatives, including four of Cortes’ daughters, spent hours at the site of the accident on Thursday evening, grieving and consoling one another. His wife, 76-year-old Aida, lamented, “He was a good husband, a good father and a good friend for everyone.”

Becky Cortes, a 37-year-old daughter of the deceased, described her father as “a good person, a happy person and a very good father, who was just trying to cross the street” when the auto accident occurred, as stated by New York Injury Attorney Jonathan Reiter.

New York Injury Attorney J.C. Reiter stated that police reported there is no suspicion of criminality, but a man who lives in the neighborhood described the buses that travel through the intersection as “reckless.”

MTA officials declined to comment on the auto accident, according to New York Injury Attorney Jonathan Reiter.

New York Injury Attorney Jonathan Reiter reports that, in 2009, 256 traffic-related fatalities occurred, an all time low, according to the Department of Transportation. According to DOT reports released Monday, February 7, 2011, auto accident deaths rose 5 percent to 269.

*Leading Manhattan auto accident attorney Jonathan C. Reiter states if you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a car crash, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and damages. Located in the Empire State Building, with more than thirty years of experience litigating the multifaceted claims of vehicular accident victims and their families, contacting New York Injury Attorney Jonathan Reiter with regard to your particular personal injury or wrongful death case may help you obtain the compensation you deserve.

At least 85 dead, hundreds injured as tornadoes, thunderstorms hit South

Killer tornadoes and thunderstorms tore through the southern United States on Wednesday, leaving at least 85 dead, hundreds injured and a wide swath of destruction in their wake.

Hardest hit was Alabama where 61 people died, most when a mile-wide tornado gouged its way across the state.

Storms also killed 11 in Mississippi, four in Georgia and one in Tennessee

In Tuscaloosa, where at least 15 people were killed, some neighborhoods were reduced to rubble and drivers abandoned cars in streets littered with downed trees and power lines.

"What we faced today was massive damage on a scale we have not seen in Tuscaloosa in quite some time," said Walter Maddox, mayor of the 83,000 population town.

One hospital emergency room took in 100 people.

A Birmingham family was trapped briefly in their home by uprooted trees.

"As I was grabbing my daughter and running to the closet, they hit the house," said Lisa Hey, who estimated 90% of the trees in her neighborhood were toppled.

"Teams have pre-deployed to begin debris removal and search and rescue operations as soon as conditions permit," said Alabama emergency agency spokeswoman Lauree Ashcom in a statement.

The monster twisters forced three nuclear reactors in Alabama to shut, leaving about 245,000 households and businesses in Alabama without power.

A Louisiana police officer was killed at a campsite in Choctaw County, Miss., when a tree fell onto his tent as he used his body to shield his 9-year-old daughter, said Kim Korthuis, a supervisor with the National Park Service.

"She wasn't hurt, just scared and soaking wet," said Greg Maier, a campsite volunteer.

Much of northern Texas, including areas recently charred by wildfires, also was pounded by tornadoes and severe thunderstorms.

"Numerous homes have been damaged or destroyed," said Lt. Chuck Allen, emergency management coordinator in Van Zandt County, located about halfway between Dallas and Tyler.

This week's storms have added to the violent weather that has pummeled much of the south this month.

Two weeks ago, at least 47 people died as storms tore a wide path from Oklahoma to North Carolina.

The latest wild weather - a nearly 600 mile stretch - began in the Midwest plains, moved through the south and Wednesday night was headed as far north as Pennsylvania and upstate New York.

The National Weather Service said as many as 21 states could be hit by severe weather before things clear up Friday.

About 74 tornadoes were reported Wednesday along with hundreds of reports of wind and hail damage.

Roads were washed out or blocked by fallen trees and power lines, houses, schools and businesses were flattened, flooded or set on fire by lightning and wind-whipped debris became deadly flying projectiles throughout the four-state hot zone.

Hundreds of people were evacuated from their homes in Missouri after levees failed to hold back swollen rivers.

"I'm just glad my family is safe," said Chris Pigg, who spent the night at a shelter with his wife and daughter and wasn't sure if he'd have a home to return to after the Black River breached the levee in Poplar Bluff.

Governors called out the National Guard to help with rescue and cleanup operations, and states of emergency were declared in Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee and Oklahoma.

Mark Wahlberg and Justin Bieber Working on a Movie

 "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never" grossed $97 million at the worldwide box office, and now major Hollywood talent are interested in working with Bieber.

Will Smith has already announced a potential project with the young singer and now comes word that Mark Wahlberg is also in talks with Bieber to make a movie.

"We're putting it together," said Wahlberg. "We're doing it at Paramount. We pitched them the idea and we're talking about doing it. [Bieber] loves the idea. I think he's really talented."

Wahlberg said that the movie will be more of a drama than a comedy, but refused to give up more details. "They may announce it fairly soon," said the actor.

US Box Office Results Today

Films are ranked in order of total domestic three-day (Friday-Sunday) ticket sales -- the dollar amount listed after each film's title and distributor -- followed by number of theater locations, average receipts per location and then total gross and number of weeks in release.

1. "Rio," Fox, $26,323,321, 3,842 locations, $6,851 average, $80,806,562, two weeks.

2. "Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family," Lionsgate, $25,068,677, 2,288 locations, $10,957 average, $25,068,677, one week.

3. "Water For Elephants," Fox, $16,842,353, 2,817 locations, $5,979 average, $16,842,353, one week.

4. "Hop," Universal, $12,185,905, 3,616 locations, $3,370 average, $100,224,905, four weeks.

5. "Scream 4," Weinstein Co., $7,030,747, 3,314 locations, $2,122 average, $31,035,010, two weeks.

6. "African Cats," Disney, $6,003,200, 1,220 locations, $4,921 average, $6,003,200, one week.

7. "Soul Surfer," Sony, $5,436,868, 2,240 locations, $2,427 average, $28,502,151, three weeks.

8. "Hanna," Focus, $5,276,801, 2,384 locations, $2,213 average, $31,717,987, three weeks.

9. "Insidious," Film District, $5,207,622, 2,130 locations, $2,445 average, $44,001,416, four weeks.

10. "Source Code," Summit, $5,091,347, 2,363 locations, $2,155 average, $44,692,591, four weeks.

11. "Arthur," Warner Bros., $4,066,109, 2,770 locations, $1,468 average, $29,216,091, three weeks.

12. "Limitless," Relativity Media, $2,664,461, 1,363 locations, $1,955 average, $74,002,055, six weeks.

13. "The Conspirator," Roadside Attractions, $2,190,440, 849 locations, $2,580 average, $6,893,123, two weeks.

14. "The Lincoln Lawyer," Lionsgate, $1,789,519, 1,220 locations, $1,467 average, $53,381,451, six weeks.

15. "Your Highness," Universal, $1,706,590, 1,610 locations, $1,060 average, $19,764,545, three weeks.

16. "Win Win," Fox Searchlight, $1,107,961, 388 locations, $2,856 average, $6,630,650, six weeks.

17. "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules," Fox, $933,540, 928 locations, $1,006 average, $50,290,531, five weeks.

18. "Atlas Shrugged: Part 1," Rocky Mountain Pictures, $881,034, 465 locations, $1,895 average, $3,096,815, two weeks.

19. "Jane Eyre," Focus, $782,372, 319 locations, $2,453 average, $7,913,203, seven weeks.

20. "Born to be Wild," Warner Bros., $652,739, 208 locations, $3,138 average, $3,075,211, three weeks.

Hollywood actor Jude Law in Austria for '360' film shoot

Hollywood actor Jude Law is among the stars of "360" -- a new movie based in the Austrian capital in which the British heartthrob plays a man whose marriage has hit a lull.

The film is directed by Fernando Meirelles and inspired by Arthur Schnitzler's play "Reigen," or "La Ronde."

While storyline specifics are being kept under wraps, screenwriter Peter Morgan told reporters Tuesday that the plot encompasses a "chain reaction of events" that start when Law's character, an Englishman in Vienna on business, is stopped from seeing a prostitute. "The one rule I gave myself was that it should start and end with a prostitute in Vienna," he said. "Vienna is the soul of the film."

Some of the cast, including Law and German actor Moritz Bleibtreu, are currently in the city for on-location shoots.

Law, looking tanned and relaxed, described the script as "really interesting, diverse and challenging" and said he was excited by the project because he is a big fan of Meirelles.

Meirelles, probably best known for "City of God" and "The Constant Gardener" also had his share of praise for Law, calling him "fantastic."

"He's not just good looking, he's a really, really solid actor," he said.

The movie also stars Anthony Hopkins and Rachel Weisz and will feature eight different languages.

Hollywood Actress Eva Mendes: "Marriage not important "

Actress Eva Mendes thinks marriage is not as necessary what society makes it out to be, and has called the institution a "very old tradition".

Although the "Last Night" actress has been dating Peruvian filmmaker George Augusto for almost a decade, she has never felt the need to walk down the aisle, reports femalefirst.

"I just don't think marriage is necessary, as necessary as society makes it. And I don't have a negative point of view on it. I just think it's a very old tradition and if you look back to what marriage symbolises in the first place ... it has nothing to do with why we get married today," she said.

The 37-year-old beauty also revealed she feels no pressure to become a mother.

"I don't know if I want children, but the idea of marriage sounds very boring to me. I have to be honest," she said.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

China have many more Pirated DVD Wholesale Markets

Cheap, pirated DVDs of American films that are produced in China can be found for sale on the streets of Beijing just a few days after the films are playing in theaters. These bootlegged DVDs are threatening legitimate DVD wholesale sales. Pirated DVD shops exist all over China. For instance, Chinese consumers can buy popular DVD movies for about $1.22 (8 yuan) from stores that exist just down the street from the Apple Store in Beijing. So why would anyone buy legitimate DVDs from the Apple Store?

A major reason for the DVD black market in China is its strict censorship policy and government restrictions on home entertainment products. This makes it nearly impossible for consumers in China to buy legal copies of American films because so few are approved for marketing. China only allows 20 foreign movies into theaters each year, and the government has strict licensing rules for the sale of home entertainment products. The censors must approve all films for legal viewing and they disapprove of movies with explicit sex scenes, as well as movies such as “The Social Network,” which is about Facebook, a site that is blocked by the government in China. Therefore, Chinese movie buffs are driven to illegal Internet downloads or stores and street vendors that sell pirated DVDs.

Bootleg DVDs in China are very slickly produced and packaged. In fact, many have extra features that make them better than those found on legitimate discs. This is a huge business. According to a report issued by the state-run media, the country’s pirate DVD industry totaled approximately $6 billion in 2010. China’s box office receipts, on the other hand, totaled a mere $1.5 billion for last year.

The authorities in China say they are taking strong action to put a stop to copyright infringement of products such as films, music and clothing. They claim this crackdown has resulted in jailing 3,000 people since October 2010. However, the major problem is that China’s censorship policies make it almost impossible for consumers to buy legal DVDs of American films in China. This is acknowledged by Hollywood studios and Chinese consumers alike.

The Motion Picture Association of America estimates 9 out of 10 DVDs sold in China are bootlegged, and the piracy rates for Internet downloads are at least the same or higher. MPAA, the trade group that represents the six major Hollywood studies is hoping that a pending World Trade Organization dispute will force China to liberalize the theatrical distribution of movies and government policies regarding the import and sale of home entertainment products, including the retailer licensing process. This has been going on since 2009 and hopefully, resolution will happen soon.

Hollywood has started licensing deals with Chinese video portals such as Youku and Tudou, whereby they license films that users can pay 5 yuan to watch. Tudou is also going to start streaming TV programs like “Desperate Housewives” and “Lost” in a licensing agreement with Disney Media Distribution. However, Chinese consumers are so used to bootlegging that they even have pirate brands such as Red Dragon, Monkey King and Pegasus. Some of the more established pirate brands are even putting watermarks on their DVDs to distinguish their products from other bootleggers.

So what can Hollywood do? The MPAA has taken people to court in China and has won these court cases. However, the penalties are not severe enough to discourage people from bootlegging. There are so many bootleg DVD factories and so little enforcement of the law that it’s hard to make a case for legitimate DVD wholesale sales.

Arnold Schwarzenegger to play ‘The Terminator 5’ again: "I'll be back"

It has emerged that Arnold Schwarzenegger will return to his iconic role as ‘The Terminator’ in a new film.

The Hollywood star and former politician plans to make a comeback to the big screen by starring in a sequel to the four-part action movie.

After nearly 30 years since the original James Cameron flick, the former California governor has promised his fans that he would return with as much violent action as ever.

"I can step very comfortably into the entertainment world and do an action movie with the same violence that I've always done," , the Courier Mail quoted him as telling the LA Times.

The film, at this stage being referred to as Terminator 5, is in a very early pre-production stage but is apparently to be directed by Fast 5 director, Justin Lin.

Hollywood Actor Bruce Willis loses $310,000 on property in New York, USA

Hollywood A-Lister Bruce Willis, the Die Hard star, has sold his 20th floor apartment at Trump Place in New York at a US$310,000 loss.

According to news reports, Hollywood A-Lister Bruce Willis has sold his property at Trump Place, New York, making a US$310,000 loss in the process.

The star of the 20th Century Fox series of Die Hard movies bought the apartment in 2007 for a reported US$4.26 million but apparently he was so keen to sell the apartment he accepted an offer of just US$3.95 million.

The 2,318 square foot property is located on the twentieth floor of Trump Place and has three bedrooms and three bathrooms with views of New York’s Hudson River and the George Washington Bridge.

The sale appears to be setting a trend for Willis as, in September 2010, he accepted an offer of US$6 million for his nightclub The Mint in Hailey, Idaho, which he bought with his former wife Demi Moore in 1990. The night club had ceased trading a year earlier, although Demi still owns the recently remodelled Old Drug Store Building just across the street.

After his first child Rumer was born Willis decided to ditch the Hollywood lifestyle and go in search of a place where his family could lead a normal life.

After an unsuccessful few years trying to settle in Ketchum, Idaho, he eventually found the town of Hailey where he bought the 18,000 acre Flying Heart Ranch for US$7 million, just outside the town.

In fact, Willis has been buying property in Hailey for the past twenty years and once said it was like “living in the 1950s”. He hoped his efforts would bring prosperity to the small town.

And, even though the Armageddon star has been pruning his property portfolio he does still own plenty of properties which he can fall back on, such as; a home in Malibu, California; a ranch in Montana; a beach house in Parrot Cay, Turks and Caicos Islands; and the Liberty Theatre in Hailey, Idaho.

Willis is also a co-founder of the Planet Hollywood restaurant chain, along with fellow actors Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone.

Trump Place, also known as Riverside South, is a US$3 billion development set on fifty six acres between New York City’s 59th street and 72nd street. It is the largest privately developed project to be built in New York City to date.

Tom Hanks sports Quemex Sport watch in new movie

Timepiece enthusiasts may be able to spot a Quemex Sport digital watch in Larry Crowne, as the device is worn by Tom Hanks throughout

Legendary Hollywood star Tom Hanks will be sporting a Quemex Sport timepiece in one of his upcoming films, fashion watch fans may be interested to hear.

The US actor, director, producer and writer will be sporting a vintage digital watch from the Chinese brand in his new movie Larry Crowne.

Watch ID could not pinpoint the exact model worn by Hanks, though it did highlight that the words Quemex and Sport are both clearly visible on the device's case.

Furthermore, the digital watch is finished with a nylon strap, to enhance the design appeal of it, and is likely to have been originally released in the 1980s, according to the news source.

Hanks, who is famous for his starring roles in such movies as Cast Away, Forrest Gump and Saving Private Ryan, appears in Larry Crowne alongside Julia Roberts. The comedy-drama is also directed and co-wrote by the legendary star.

Hugh Jackman urges UK to live off £1 a day

Hugh Jackman is challenging people in the UK to live off £1 a day for five days.

Hollywood actor, Jackman’s pledge comes as he fronts a charity campaign urging as many people as possible to take up the challenge to raise awareness of the 1.4 billion people living in extreme poverty globally.

Consider the price of a coffee these days and living on just £1 sounds like a stretch, but he believes it will get people thinking, and talking about it, which is the objective.

"I've been to Ethiopia and Cambodia, I've seen first-hand the difficulties people have but also how empowering it is when people get out of poverty," he said.

“I went to Cambodia and was shown some micro-financing projects. I’ll never forget seeing a group of women getting their first loan of £300 to start their own textile business. A woman had tears running down her face because it represented a chance for her to get out of a cycle of poverty

that had affected her family for generations. It’s a lack of opportunity, not a lack of hard work.”

The campaign Live Below The Line, run by the Global Poverty Project, runs from May 2 to May 6.

Despite critics questioning whether the campaign will have any noticeable affect, Jackman is convinced it will raise awareness among governments and individuals.

He said: "There are three major pillars for change, aid - protecting foreign aid at government level, trade and battling corruption.”

He added: “I believe in investing in foreign aid morally but, even from a practical standpoint, we’re (Western and third-world countries) are interlinked in so many ways – trade, health and the environment.”

Jackman is aware of the cynics. Who is he, a wealthy celebrity, to be challenging people to live on the breadline?

He said: "Being in movies I have things given to me, clothes and luxuries.

"I'm fully aware that I live in this weird sort of bubble that is not realistic and I struggle with that question everyday.

“But I’m not coming at this as a celebrity. I’m coming at it as a 42-year-old man who met this team and just wanted to get on board. They’re not asking for money, they’re asking people to activated and do something.”

But the actor argues you cannot point the finger at the rich and famous without examining your own lifestyle first and that in comparison to the developed world, most people in the UK, America and Australia have "unbelievable luxuries".

He believes most celebrities support charities for the right reasons, not because it is fashionable.

"Everyone wants to do something. I've worked with actors let's say Travolta, Halle Berry, Meg Ryan you have no idea of the generosity of these people what they give.

"Look at Paul Newman he's given away £100m in this incredible company.

"There's a lot of philanthropy – some behind the scenes, some like people to know about it. To each their own."

Jessica Simpson appears to be winning the battle of the bulge ahead of her wedding at Hot Hollywood Style party

It's every bride-to-be's dream to be the perfect shape in time for her wedding - just ask Kate Middleton - and it looks like Jessica Simpson is well on her way to achieving her wish.

Jessica has long had issues with her figure, facing harsh comments when she wore a pair of extremely unflattering high-waisted jeans on stage in 2009.

But it appears that the Dukes of Hazzard star is winning the war again her weight ahead of her wedding this year to former NFL football player Eric Johnson, 31.

The star was looking svelte in a tiny tribal print mini dress at the Us magazine Hot Hollywood Style issue party last night in Los Angeles.

Jessica is clearly pretty happy with the results she's achieved so far too, writing on her Twitter: i felt beautiful tonight...y'all give style to icon! xoxo'

Other stars at the bash included Hayden Panettierre, Carmen Electra, Lauren Conrad, Paris Hilton, Joe Jonas, Camila Alves and Petra Nemcova.

At the end of year, as shown in the picture of her wearing the red dress, she was considerably curvier.

Jessica has previously hinted that she intends to be married by this Christmas, but is yet to set a date.

In the meantime, she has enlisted the services of Tracy Anderson to help her get into shape.

She is believed to be working out four times a week for 75 minutes at a time with the fitness expert, who has worked with the likes of Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow.

But her friends have said that Jessica has no intention of becoming skinny, she just wants to be in good shape when she walks down the aisle.

One said: 'She wants to look healthy, not super-skinny. She’s seeing results with her new workout program. She really loves it.'

The vegan diet also appears to just be an occasional thing for Jessica who when asked if she had gone vegan full time recently, responded: 'I'm from Texas...I'd fry steak.'

She said last year of her weight battles: 'We all obsess over looking like the perfect Barbie type, and that's not always what's beautiful. It's about making peace with yourself.'

Meanwhile, singer and actress Jessica is as well known for her clothing empire than her entertainment talents.

She's being tipped this year to become the every celebrity fashion line earn one billion dollars in annual sales.

The line made a whopping $750 million dollars in sales last year, making it the top selling celebrity clothing empire and putting her in the same league earnings-wise as U.S. fashion legends Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein.

The singer was previously married to Nick Lachey for just under four years with the couple divorcing in 2006.

Talking to Women's Wear Daily last month, she said: 'We've both been married before. We're enjoying our commitment to each other. We want to take our time.

She added: 'We might elope if it gets to that point.'

The star divorced her first husband Nick Lachey in 2005 after six years of marriage and began dating Johnson in May last year.

Jessica is also still in the running to be join Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid as a judge on X Factor USA.

She said: 'They have definitely talked to me about X Factor. I think it would be a lot of fun. It's definitely my life.

'To be a mentor for up-and-coming artists is right up my alley. I would have loved to have a mentor. I love watching people's dreams come true.'

Sony's PlayStation hack apology

Below is the full text of Sony's blog posting on the PlayStation Network hack and loss of personal data.

The latest information on the PlayStation Network service outage.

Thank you for your patience while we work to resolve the current outage of PlayStation Network & Qriocity services. The following email has been sent to all PSN registrants; please read the help and support FAQ for more information.

Valued PlayStation Network/Qriocity Customer:

We have discovered that between April 17 and April 19, 2011, certain PlayStation Network and Qriocity service user account information was compromised in connection with an illegal and unauthorized intrusion into our network. In response to this intrusion, we have:

1) Temporarily turned off PlayStation Network and Qriocity services;

2) Engaged an outside, recognized security firm to conduct a full and complete investigation into what happened; and

3) Quickly taken steps to enhance security and strengthen our network infrastructure by re-building our system to provide you with greater protection of your personal information.

We greatly appreciate your patience, understanding and goodwill as we do whatever it takes to resolve these issues as quickly and efficiently as practicable.

Although we are still investigating the details of this incident, we believe that an unauthorized person has obtained the following information that you provided: name, address (city, state/province, zip or postal code), country, email address, birthdate, PlayStation Network/Qriocity passwords and login and handle/PSN online ID. It is also possible that your profile data, including purchase history and billing address (city, state, zip), and your PlayStation Network/Qriocity password security answers may have been obtained. If you have authorized a sub-account for your dependent, the same data with respect to your dependent may have been obtained. While there is no evidence that credit card data was taken at this time, we cannot rule out the possibility. If you have provided your credit card data through PlayStation Network or Qriocity, to be on the safe side we are advising that your credit card number (excluding security code) and expiration date may also have been obtained.

For your security, we encourage you to be especially aware of email, telephone, and postal mail scams that ask for personal or sensitive information. Sony will not contact you in any way, including by email, asking for your credit card number, social security, tax identification or similar number or other personally identifiable information. If you are asked for this information, you can be confident Sony is not the entity asking. When the PlayStation Network and Qriocity services are fully restored, we strongly recommend that you log on and change your password. Additionally, if you use your PlayStation Network or Qriocity user name or password for other unrelated services or accounts, we strongly recommend that you change them, as well.

To protect against possible identity theft or other financial loss, we encourage you to remain vigilant to review your account statements and to monitor your credit or similar types of reports.

We thank you for your patience as we complete our investigation of this incident, and we regret any inconvenience. Our teams are working around the clock on this, and services will be restored as soon as possible. Sony takes information protection very seriously and will continue to work to ensure that additional measures are taken to protect personally identifiable information. Providing quality and secure entertainment services to our customers is our utmost priority. Please contact us at uk.playstation.com/psnoutage should you have any additional questions.

Sincerely,

Sony Network Entertainment and Sony Computer Entertainment Teams

Sony Network Entertainment Europe Limited (formerly known as PlayStation Network Europe Limited) is a subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Limited the data controller for PlayStation Network/Qriocity personal data.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Vin Diesel spends time in the ‘Fast’ lane

In Hollywood, substantial careers are said to have legs — but in Vin Diesel’s case, it’s wheels.

Ever since the shiny-domed tough guy burned rubber as the breakout star of 2001’s “The Fast and the Furious,” Diesel’s Dom Toretto, the hulking chief of a ring of car thieves, has been the bread and butter of Diesel’s career.

This Friday’s “Fast Five” is the fifth installment of the rubber-burning franchise.

The gravel-voiced actor skipped the first sequel, “2 Fast 2 Furious,” had a cameo in the next, “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift,” and returned to star in “Fast & Furious,” which reignited the franchise. Here’s a peek in the rearview:

“The Fast and the Furious” (2001)

Plot: Cars go vroom as undercover cop Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker) infiltrates street racer Dom Toretto’s (Diesel) hijacking truck ring and falls for his sister Mia Toretto (Jordana Brewster).

Also starring: Modified Honda Civics

Box-office domestic gross: $145 million

“2 Fast 2 Furious” (2003)

Plot: O’Conner, no longer a cop, is busted by the FBI and watched by customs agent Monica Fuentes (Eva Mendes). He’s also forced to infiltrate gangster Carter Verone’s (Cole Hauser) crew to get his record cleaned. He partners with childhood buddy and ex-con Roman “Rom” Pearce (Tyrese Gibson).

Also starring: Modified Nissan Skyline, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and a Mitsubishi Eclipse

Box-office domestic gross: $127 million

“The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift” (2006)

Plot: Street-racing teen Sean Boswell (Lucas Black) is sent to Tokyo to be with his military dad after a crash. There he meets military brat Twinkie (Bow Wow), who introduces him to underground drift racing. They tussle with the Drift King (Brian Tee).

Also starring: Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

Box-office domestic gross: $63 million

“Fast & Furious” (2009)

Plot: O’Conner, now with the FBI, needs to infiltrate a heroin ring run by the mysterious Braga (John Ortiz). Dom comes out of hiding as he searches for the killer of his lover Letty (Michelle Rodriguez).

Also starring: Nissan Skyline GT-R, Chevrolet Chevelle

Box-office domestic gross: $155 million

Tom Cruise's Mission Impossible 4 being shot in South Mumbai, India

Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise starrer Mission Impossible 4 is being shot in South Mumbai. Although the superstar will not be in India but his double was spotted moving in Mumbai’s bylanes in search of veteran Bollywood star Anil Kapoor.

Anil Kapoor who is making his debut in Hollywood venture Mission Impossible 4-Ghost Protocol is being shot in South Mumbai. Insiders stated that most of the action scenes including car chase in the film will be shot by the second unit of the film.

Double of Tom Cruise along with the heroine of the film were seen driving a BMW SS01 specially designed for the film. A source close to the unit of the film stated that none of the lead actors including Tom Cruise or Anil Kapoor will shoot in India.

The film unit after completing their shooting schedule in Mumbai will travel to Bangalore within some days.

Lead actors of the film Anil Kapoor and Tom Cruise have completed the shooting of the interior parts of Bangalore and Mumbai in Vancouver and Dubai which later will be matched with the sequences of the scenes that have been shot in India.

The film stars Tom Cruise, Anil Kapoor, Jeremy Renner and Paul Patton. Mission Impossible 4- Ghost Protocol will hit theatres this December.

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YouTube Introduces Movies On Demand Service, Finally!

Life just got better for all YouTube loyalists. After a dull week, rife with updates on how to transfer videos from a slowly dying Google Videos onto an over-worked YouTube, the worst seems to be over. Pay and Watch!

YouTube has now officially entered the online movie rental space. The service that is all set to launch this week will charge users for streaming mainstream Hollywood movies. YouTube is poised to give the popular iTunes service a stiff competition. iTunes currently is the most popular paid video streaming service, and now with YouTube entering the space with a host of big names backing it; the competitor seems to have toughened overnight.

YouTube, to say, was in plans of launching its own video streaming service since long. But, it was in the process of getting in the biggest names in the market under its hood. YouTube has so far managed to get in studios like Sony Pictures Entertainment, Warner Brothers and Universal, as also independent studios like Lionsgate and Kino Lorber. However, Paramount Pictures, Fox and Disney have not given in their consent to licensing their movies, as yet. Hollywood, however, is now optimistic about YouTube’s this move, since its being seen as an excellent revenue generating mode. 

All the more crucial, since the revenues coming in from the home entertainment sector has been on a steady decline.

Hollywood star Ben Stiller makes Broadway return

Hollywood star Ben Stiller has returned to the Broadway stage for the first time since 1986 to act in the same dark comedy he previously appeared in.

He stars opposite Sopranos actress Edie Falco in The House of Blue Leaves, as a zookeeper whose musical ambitions are stymied by his mentally ill wife.

Jennifer Jason Leigh also stars in the revival of John Guare's play, which had its official opening night on Monday.

The production is scheduled to run at the Walter Kerr Theatre until 30 June.

Stiller, 45, had a supporting role in The House of Blue Leaves when it was staged in New York in 1986 alongside Frasier star John Mahoney in the lead role.

His mother Anne Meara also has ties to the 1966 play, having appeared in an off-Broadway production in 1971.

In the Hollywood Reporter, critic David Rooney said both he and Falco give"affecting performances"in what he described as an"unbalanced production".

The play"frequently sings"yet"cries out overall for a lighter touch"from director David Cromer, added Rooney.

In the New York Times, Ben Brantley praised Falco's"transfixing"portrayal of Bananas Shaughnessy,"a medicated madwoman longing to feel".

Stiller projects"an air of angry resignation that tells us he's going nowhere"in his role as her"no talent"husband Artie, adds the critic.

Variety's Marilyn Stasio suggested the actor may be too young for his role yet remains"excellently cast".

The star, she said, is"so personally appealing, so comically desperate and so oblivious to the absurdity of his ambitions that he makes the character almost likeable".

Best known for his comic roles in Zoolander, Tropic Thunder and There's Something about Mary, Stiller was seen last year in a more serious guise in comedy drama Greenberg.
Since The Sopranos ended in 2007, Falco has been seen in the medical drama Nurse Jackie, which gained her an Emmy award in 2010.