BuzzSugar

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 00:11:27 PST

All of the new DVD releases hit stores (and Netflix) on Tuesdays. So each week in What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday, I sort through the best of the batch and tell you what to add to your queue. In addition to these titles, you can now check out the second season of Big Love, High School Musical 2, and the indie movie Interview with Steve Buscemi and Sienna Miller.

The Bourne Ultimatum
This third installment in the Bourne series was one of the most refreshing things of the summer movie season. From the looks of my Best Action Flick of 2007 poll, you all seriously enjoyed it as well! This chapter of Bourne's story finds him bopping around Moscow, New York, Paris, Madrid, London, and Tangier as he continues to figure out his past. The DVD version boasts plenty of extras, from the audio commentary and deleted scenes to the many production featurettes, including pieces on the many locations they traveled to and the making of the chase and fight scenes.

More new DVDs if you

read more Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Another of this summer's biggest releases, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix continues the story of the boy (er, teen) wizard as he trains an army of students (Dumbledore's Army) to defend the wizard world against the return of the evil Lord Voldemort. The new DVD is packed with extras, most of which deal with behind-the-scenes stuff, like a backstage tour led by Natalia Tena (Tonks) and a featurette devoted to the magic of editing. Additionally there are plenty of clips with the actors, some deleted scenes, and way more. Carve out some time in your schedule to tackle this particular set of DVD special features!
Lost - Season Three For me, the third season of Lost was one of extremes: There were some of the worst episodes and some of the best. The second half of the season completely restored my faith in the show, which had been shaken by the mediocre first half that aired during the Fall of 2006. In addition to the full season's episodes, spread out among seven discs, there are some intriguing special features. I'm most curious about a featurette called "The Lost Book Club," in which the role of literature in Lost is explored by the show's cast and producers. In addition, there are never-before-seen flashbacks, an examination of "The World of the Others" in which people from the show take a look at the significance of the Others in the world of Lost, and several more featurettes.

See Steve Carell and Keira Knightley's Apocalyptic Movie Poster

BuzzSugar — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:46:24 PST

Check out the poster for Seeking a Friend For the End of the World - Moviefone
Read about the romance Justin Long is writing and starring in - NextMovie
Is Real Housewives of Miami coming back for another season? - BuddyTV
Get a peek at The Secret Circle's Valentine's episode - Zap2It
The 10 best movies of character actor Luis Guzmán - Rotten Tomatoes
Watch Michael Showalter confirm the Wet Hot American Summer sequel - HuffPostTV
Find out why Paradise Lost has been scrapped - /Film
10 movies that would be great in 3D - GeekSugar

Announcing the 2012 Oscar Nominations!

Shannon Vestal — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:21:53 PST

The 2012 Oscar nominations have been announced! Lots of award season regulars, like The Artist and The Descendants, got some love, but there were also a handful of surprises, like nominations for Nick Nolte, Gary Oldman, and Terrence Malick. Bridesmaids also scored big, with noms for best original screenplay and best supporting actress for Melissa McCarthy.

The Academy chose nine films for best picture, with lots of familiar titles in there, plus a couple that had early awards buzz but haven't necessarily had consistent attention, like Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and The Tree of Life. The films that racked up the most nominations were Hugo with 11 and The Artist with 10.

To see the full list of nominations, just keep reading.

Pirate Rock! Disney's Sharky and Bones Open Up About Pirate Culture, Jake, and Peter Pan

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:37:27 PST

Can you talk like a pirate? If your lil one is between 2 and 5 years old, chances are he'll know exactly what we're talking about!

Since its launch last February, Disney's Jake and the Neverland Pirates has become the top-ranking series among kids in that age group. The animated show - about a new crew of pirates who work together to outwit Captain Hook and Smee around Pirate Island - is about to embark on its second season with a prime-time special Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Peter Pan Returns (airing Feb. 13), where the little boy who won't grow up enlists the minipirates to help him find his lost shadow. As with the daily show, the special will feature original pirate rock songs written and sung by Sharky and Bones of The Never Land Pirate Band. I spoke with Loren Hoskins and Kevin Hendrickson, the men behind Sharky and Bones and the stars of the live-action music videos featured at the end of each episode, about the popularity of pirate culture and what it can teach tots today.

LilSugar: Obviously you two are well versed in little kids' obsessions with pirates. How did it start for you two?
Kevin Hendrickson (Bones): It started before our kids. Loren and I met maybe 12 years ago, and we both just had a love of pirates and the old Disney records we grew up listening to. We decided to make a pirate album for kids, even though we didn't have kids.
Loren Hoskins (Sharky): We were pirates before pirate was cool. We had an affinity for pirate and pirate culture and the old Disneyland rides - you know the old Pirates of the Caribbean attraction - and we combined all those into a rock album for kids of all ages. We say "for buccaneers of all ages" because we had a lot of fans that were not kids and a lot of fans that were kids and then families that were fans. We just decided to not be a children's band, but a band for all buccaneers!

LilSugar: It's been almost 60 years since Disney released Peter Pan, and unlike other Disney flicks, it hasn't received a rerelease or a 3D upgrade. Why do you think the pirate obsession remains so strong today?
Loren Hoskins (Sharky): I have always maintained that what pirates represent for play is all the best things about play. That's imagination, adventure, being bold-hearted, silly voices, and fun dress-up costumes. You put all that together and you get classic kid play. It's like pirates and dinosaurs. Dinosaurs were huge for a while, and I think for the same reason – you can just go "roaar," and play all these great games, and they were bold and adventurous and from exotic locations. Pirates are the same thing. They're one of those classic play building blocks

Keep reading for more of our talk about pirate rock and the show's educational value.

Joseph Morgan on Immortals and Why He's Pushing For Klaus to Get a Love Interest on The Vampire Diaries

Shannon Vestal — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:35:35 PST

Joseph Morgan has been terrorizing this season of The Vampire Diaries as Klaus, a vampire/werewolf hybrid with many decades of scheming and torture in his past. He's been a delight to watch on TV, but he's also making an appearance on the big screen this week in the 3D epic Immortals, alongside Henry Cavill (aka the next Superman) and Kellan Lutz. I chatted with Morgan this week to talk about his new film and how he feels about playing Klaus - and why he thinks it's time for his big bad villain to fall in love.

BuzzSugar: How has it been being the big villain of the season?
Joseph Morgan: It's been very, very fun; I enjoy my job immensely. I've been asked a few times, "what other character would you like to play?", and I just think I get the best stuff to do, or the most fun stuff at least. It's been great, but I feel like I've always wanted to play a character like this. When I read for the part, I got through the pages I had to read, and I looked at them like "Oh yeah, I know exactly how I want to do this." I guess because I'm a fan of the genre, [I was] subconsciously preparing for a role like this for a while, you know? It's an immense amount of fun and I get to push a lot of buttons with the other characters on set, which is always fun. And to play someone who really isn't worried about anything - there isn't any real threat to him most of the time - it's really an interesting challenge.

Buzz: The characters are trying to kill Klaus, so do you get panicked that the next script may have your death in it?
JM: Yeah, there's a little bit of that going on! Certainly, at the end of last season when I read the penultimate episode, all the way through they're talking about this plot to kill me, and I thought, what if I turn this page and that is what happens? But I trust them; if it's the end of the line, they're going to do it epically and it's going to be in keeping with the quality and the style they already put out. So I'm really not worried. I feel like if Klaus is going to die it's going to be the biggest dramatic death we've seen so far. There's some merit in that as well. But I do worry a little bit. I'm very, very happy to be a part of the show and I do feel like there's more that could be explored with this character.

Buzz: Would you ever want Klaus to get a love interest?
JM: Oh, man I hope so. I've been pushing them for ages. There's a certain amount of humanity they're bringing to the character now, which is really great, because people are starting to empathize with him, and really understand the dysfunctional background he comes from. But there's a side of a person that you only get to see when they're with someone they care about. And I think that's the side we're missing with Klaus. I think it would be wonderful if they were to introduce some sort of love interest for him. I'm confident if they think that's where we need to go, that's what will happen. I certainly keep nagging Julie Plec [The Vampire Diaries executive producer] about it.

Get more of my interview with Morgan, which includes his thoughts on who Elena should be with (hint: it's him) and what he thinks of his Immortals costar Henry Cavill, after the jump.

8 Ways to Motivate and Get Off Your Cold Weather Butt

Self — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 04:08:54 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Self here on FitSugar!

I got chills. They're multiplying. But they're not of the Grease Lightening variety. It's getting cold (nearly 75 degrees in LA) and I'm starting to see visions of couches, heavy meals, hot chocolate and layered clothing (to hide the blubber!).

What? You need fat for warmth . . . supposedly.

Okay, fine. Better nip this cold weather slump in the bud before I settle down for a five-month Snuggie hibernation. Luckily, I have certified trainer and owner of new BIA Strong Body Studio Rebecca Black (not that Rebecca Black) to motivate me. And now so do you.

And Black knows a thing or two about weight loss. Not only does the Columbus, Ohio-based trainer help other people get in shape (while participating in bikini fitness competitions), but she also experienced her own weight loss transformation. "I lost about 40lbs," she explains. "But it took longer than it should have because I didn't know what I was doing and neither did my trainer."

As we all know, it's easy to fall into bad habits, especially as the winter months approach. "This is when people pack on the pounds, especially in the Midwest and on the East Coast," laments the trainer. "As soon as the temperature starts to drop, people become hermits: Instead of going to the gym, they watch TV. They're back to school and super busy. And it's football season, so there's tailgating. I even fall into that rut and I'm a trainer. If I don't want to get up at 5am and train people, why would my clients?"

Luckily, Black has certain tricks for getting people up and ready to exercise. Here are her top eight motivational tips after the break.

10 Biggest Spending Excuses and How to Squash Them

LearnVest — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:15:12 PDT

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

You’re a clever gal.

Which probably means that your mind can have a, well, mind of its own.

You can talk yourself into things, out of things, even over things (he always did look kind of lame in his favorite fedora). When your mind is healthy, strong, and on the angelic side of your shoulder, talking you out of overspending, great. But when it’s a weak and flabby devil’s advocate, telling your better self, “But it’s on sale . . . and you’ll be getting that extra commission check soon,” then it’s time to bring in the big guns: a little combat training to beat those excuses into shape.

Below, your guide to creating a mind of anti-shopping steel: the top 10 spending excuses we use-and how to squash them. Think of these as squats for your spending “buts.” Now get to work, and repeat as necessary!

Excuse #1: But It's on Sale

(Also known as: It's really cheap; it's only $12.99; it's such a great deal.)

Ah, the lure of the deal. Retailers so understand that people want a deal that an entire Groupon-inspired industry has spawned from this, and outlets even create fake markdowns on their price tags. This will require a mind of steel, but you must train yourself to ignore the base price and focus only on the offered price. Your only considerations should be: (1) Whether you really need it, and (2) whether the price fits within your budget. Even big discounts can mean big spending.

Excuse #2: But I've Been Working so Hard, I Deserve It

We all work hard (unless you're born wealthy or won the lottery, in which case, um, good for you). Donna Summer put it best when she said, "She works hard for the money." That's right. We all work hard. It's not that you shouldn't use your hard-earned money to enjoy life-you should. It's just that "working hard" shouldn't be an excuse to spend. After all, it's not like your income automatically expands proportionally to how difficult work has been lately. Your budget trumps how you feel about your work stress. (But if it consistently doesn't add up, look for a job where you'll be compensated better-and check out our salary negotiating tips.)

Read on for more spending excuses.

Are Sore Muscles a Sign of a Good Workout?

Shape — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 04:29:57 PDT

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar.

If your New Year's resolution to get in shape stalled out fast, you might be panicking right about now since bikini season is right around the bend. Making up for lost time with an aggressive workout routine will likely leave you sore, but begging for more once you see your thighs trim down and take form.

That burn you feel 24 to 48 hours after an intense workout is called delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), and it's enough to make you want to put down the Kettlebell and pick up a cocktail. But press on! We talked to fitness and nutrition expert Harley Pasternak, M.Sc., author of The 5-Factor World Diet, and trainer to celebrities like Lady Gaga, Megan Fox, and Halle Berry, about why (some) pain is good.

"The idea behind resistance training is that you're basically tearing something and creating a micro trauma in the muscle," Pasternak says. "When the muscle recovers, it's going to recover stronger and denser than it was before." So that soreness you feel the day after an upper-body workout-when you're hauling groceries into your car and you can hardly lift your arms-is good.

See Harley's tips for reducing DOMS after the break!

5 Things We Already Know About True Blood Season Four

Shannon Vestal — Thu, 26 May 2011 15:40:53 PDT

Are you aware that the True Blood season premiere is a mere month away? The excitement has been heating up, but it reached a boiling point with the recently released photos from season four. But I know what you want besides pictures and previews: details. So gathering what we can from the pics and promos from the upcoming season, I've put together a list of a few things that we can expect when season four starts.

1) Eric has lost his memory. We had a sneak peek of a scene of Eric stumbling around, and then Alexander Skarsgard confirmed at PaleyFest that Eric has amnesia. Sexy, confused Eric? Still hot.

2) Tommy is still alive. At the end of season three, we saw an angry Sam go after his brother Tommy and then shoot at him, but the finale ended on a cliffhanger. From this picture, we know he survived (or is dead and making an appearance as a ghost, but let's err on the side of optimism, shall we?). Since Tommy turned against Sam at the end of the season, I wonder if he's going to keep making trouble for his brother, or if he'll straighten out.

To see the next three, just

read more. 3) Witches have invaded Bon Temps. Fiona Shaw joins the season as witch Marnie, and we've also viewed a scene of Bill and Eric discussing the new coven of witches. It's looking like witches will be to season four what werewolves were to season three, so gas up your broomsticks. 4) Bill won the fight with the vampire queen. It was obvious Bill would survive the fight he picked with Queen Sophie-Anne, because he's Bill, duh. And unless they went back on their agreement that the brawl was "to the death," then we have a great, bloody battle to look forward to in the season premiere. But will Sophie make it out alive? And if she doesn't, with Russell also gone, who's going to be the next big bad vampire leader? 5) Sam will get a new love interest. The sensitive shapeshifter has the worst luck when it comes to love (like a lot of people on this show), but this season, he may get to be happy for a while. His new sweetie is Luna, played by Janina Gavankar, though their bliss may be short-lived. As you can see from this clip, she's got some baggage in the form of a werewolf ex. Of course, there will be so much more to look forward to in the fourth season. I can't wait to see where Sookie's romantic life goes, now that she's a swingin' single after kicking Bill to the curb (I'm split between Eric and Alcide). Plus, there are more than a few cliffhangers to be resolved, like Jason's new role as leader in the werepanther community of Hotshot, or what's up with the creepy baby doll in Jessica and Hoyt's new house. What are you looking forward to seeing most when True Blood comes back? Photo courtesy of HBO

Buzz Blabber: The Odd Life of Timothy Green Trailer Is Magical

BuzzSugar — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 03:05:00 PDT

This week had you guys buzzing about upcoming movies, like The Odd Life of Timothy Green and The Hunger Games, but you also had a lot to say about the latest developments on True Blood. Check out some of our favorite reader comments below.

You're entranced by the magic of The Odd Life of Timothy Green trailer

"I love this. I don't think there are enough of these kind of magical realism [films]; Big Fish; Tuck Everlasting; The Curious Case of Benjamin Button kind of movies (and I didn't even like Benjamin Button - I just like this genre). It looks sweet and sad; hopefully it's well-written. . . ." - lizlee89
"It brought tears to my eyes!! I can't wait for it to come to theaters. I loved Big Fish as well, Benjamin Button, not so much. These movies help you believe in the magic of what could be."- shoegirl365
"Magical, heartfelt, and sweet. I like it!" - krispin

To find out what else made you guys talk back in comments, just

"It kinda sucks that they didn't dye Josh's hair but he's a good actor so I'll allow it. Jennifer is rocking the heck out of that hair." - awesomepants
"Josh Hutcherson is a great actor, but I feel like these movies are destined to be terrible." - jrosenberg02
"Jennifer looks amazing - I wasn't convinced when they first cast her but these pictures totally change my mind!" - littlemunchkin

True Blood's new spirit sparks intrigue

"I think the ghost was called to baby Mikey due to whatever Arlene and Holly were doing out in the woods in season 3 when she was asking for Holly's help in getting rid of the baby. Maybe whatever spirit that she and Holly called to them when they were doing that spell, manifested itself to watch over that baby?? I don't know. But I'm sure you can't do those kinds of rituals without calling out something from the spirit world. Arlene might need help from one of the witches to get rid of this spirit, who probably thinks that Arlene doesn't want her baby." - TammyO
"I think Mikey is some sort of baby medium (or maybe not) and [the spirit] just protective of him. Maybe was a nanny in her former life or she lost a child." - HoneyBrown
"If Mikey can see/sense the spirit, I would think he's also a medium or something 'supernatural'...I just wonder if she's protecting him from the creepy-dirty-doll or is a malevolent spirit (possibly connected to creepy-dirty-doll?) I just have to say, though, overall I'm liking this season a lot more than last. The plot seems tighter and is actually moving toward a common purpose, whereas last season, it started strong and kinda floundered toward the end. I can't wait for Eric's memory to come back though!" - dreamalittledream

Photo courtesy of Disney