BuzzSugar

Box Office: Madagascar Wins Lion's Share of the Bucks

BuzzSugar — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 08:30:09 PST

The animated sequel Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa was a big hit with audiences over the weekend, earning a whopping $63.5 million. In fact, it set some records and "narrowly scored the best opening of the year for a family toon, as well as the seventh best bow of all time." Madagascar 2 just barely surpassed Wall-E which brought in $63 million its opening weekend.

In the No. 2 spot came the Paul Rudd comedy Role Models that exceeded expectations with an estimated $19.3 million. High School Musical 3: Senior Year, Changeling, and Zack and Miri Make a Porno rounded out the top five followed by Soul Men, which opened at No. 6.

Picture courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Watch, Pass, TiVo, or Rent: Soul Men

BuzzSugar — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:30:32 PST

This Friday's Soul Men features both the late Bernie Mac and the late Isaac Hayes, lending a bittersweetness to this comedy. What's more, the story follows two estranged musical legends (played by Bernie Mac and Samuel L. Jackson) who pair up again for a reunion performance at the Apollo Theater to honor their recently deceased band leader.

Do you think you'll head out to theaters for this one, catch it later on TV or DVD, or pass altogether?

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Movie Preview: Soul Men

BuzzSugar — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 14:00:59 PDT

After seeing a few clips of Soul Men a little while ago, I was intrigued by this comedy starring Samuel L. Jackson and the late Bernie Mac (it also includes one of Isaac Hayes's final performances), which is why I was happy to recently find an actual trailer.

Everyone knows that Jackson is perfectly suited for roles in dark comedies, but to see him as one half of a straight-up buddy movie is kind of unexpected and fun. He looks quite comfortable playing the straight man here. Of course, there are pangs of grief that come with watching this trailer, but it's also joyful to see Bernie Mac on the screen in a warm, bumbling, and funny role. He's the kind of comedian who makes me laugh just with his gestures and the inflection in his voice.

Needless to say, I will definitely be in line with bells on for this one when it hits theaters November 7. To take a look for yourself,

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First Look: Bernie Mac, Isaac Hayes, Samuel L. Jackson in Soul Men

BuzzSugar — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:30:46 PDT

I knew this movie was being made, but I wasn't paying a ton of attention to it, since there was nothing to check out yet. But now that I've seen a few clips of Soul Men, I honestly can't wait to see it. Sadly, these are now some of the final performances for both Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes, but the good news is that this movie looks great, and yes, soulful. It makes me happy for the two entertainers, may they rest in peace.

Bernie Mac and Samuel L. Jackson star as Floyd and Louis, "two estranged soul-singing legends [who] agree to participate in a reunion performance at the Apollo Theater to honor their recently deceased band leader." Isaac Hayes appears as himself. In one brief clip, Hayes goes to wish Floyd and Louis luck backstage, and Jackson says, "Thanks, we're gonna need it," and then the clip ends right there. Of the three people in that scene, two died in the same weekend. It's a little spooky.

The video will just redirect you to MTV's site anyway, so click here to see all four clips of Soul Men.

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Buzz News Roundup, 2/13

BuzzSugar — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 13:32:50 PST

Tina Fey will host the first post-strike episode of Saturday Night Live

The New York Times

John Legend and Isaac Hayes have joined the cast of the comedy Soul Men, which includes Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac, writes Billboard.
ComingSoon has news that Wes Craven's first horror project since 1994 will be 25/8, based on the 1972 George Romero film.
Benjamin Bratt will star in a new series for A&E about an interventionist, while Timothy Hutton will portray a modern-day Robin Hood in the TNT series Leverage; details on both are at The Futon Critic.
Ashton Kutcher and Jennifer Jason Leigh will star together in the indie sex comedy titled Spread, reports Variety.
Aretha Franklin is not pleased with Beyonce after Beyonce's Grammy intro referred to Tina Turner, not Franklin, as "the queen," the Associated Press reports.
Zap2It writes that Joel Surnow, co-creator of 24, is leaving the show to pursue other projects.
According to Billboard, this summer's tour will be the last for The Police.
Fox is remaking a Japanese TV show in which people must fit into shapes like human Tetris pieces, according to Variety.

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What We Need to Talk About When We Talk About Sex and Feminism

The Good Men Project — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 08:00:00 PDT

We're happy to present this story from one of our favorite sites, The Good Men Project. Lisa Solod, who came of age during the sexual revolution, explores what feminism means to this generation.

My mother married my father because, she told me in a rare moment of candor, she wanted to have sex with him. She was 25 and tired of pre-sex fumbling and stolen kisses. My father was, of course, far more experienced, having been in the Pacific Theater during World War II; far less discreet about his former life (and life in general) he told his daughters inappropriate tales of the women he had met on shore leave. One I particularly remember had her front teeth filed into points. Well into their marriage, each of them managed to be unfaithful and they finally separated (but not because of infidelity) after twenty years of marriage. Yet, for another dozen years or so they would hook up here and there, travel together, and, of course have sex. In a further revelation, my mother told me that the sex was the best part of her relationship with my father.

I came of age at the tail end but the real beginning of the sexual revolution (1971-1974). At that point, sexual liberation was inextricably tied to the rise of feminism. Having sex like men, i.e., without attachment, was part of our freedom. But too many of us got hurt. We hadn’t yet factored in the biology of mating and how really hard it was to have that much sex without any real commitment. Most of the women I know who grew up during those years had far more sexual encounters than they were ever willing to reveal to their husbands. Those of us who divorced then dived back into the sexual market with the same abandon. I am not sure we were all the wiser. I hear STDs are on the rise in the over 50 group, which doesn’t surprise me. We all were pretty practiced in birth control but we took it into our own hands, with the pill and the diaphragm. This was pre-AIDS. Barrier methods were not our methods of choice then. They are not, apparently, our method now, either.

Should a Man Stand Up For His Woman?

But those of us who grew up in the trenches of the sexual revolution know that feminism was about far more than women having the kind of meaningless sex with men that men had been having with us for eons. Feminism, which is still being parsed in the media as well as our own homes, still being debated and discussed and accepted and dismissed, was about being able to control (to the extent that anyone can) our work lives, our love lives, our lives as a whole. It was about being able to have a career, being paid equally well for that career, and making our own decisions about marriage and childbirth without having to merely capitulate to what society had set out for us. I, for one, was happy not to have to marry to have sex. I was thrilled to be able to go to college and think about a career without worrying that it might make me unmarriageable. I was ecstatic about the notion that I could make decisions for myself.

All those ideas I passed along to my daughter. But, of course, she had no need to wrestle with those notions as the women in my generation had. She lived in a society where (she thought) feminism was taken for granted. Women her age did not talk about marriage, either as an option or something to reject. They saw it as fact that women could do anything.

Read the rest of the story below.

10 Gym Guy Stereotypes (and Why We Love Them)

FitSugar — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:46:08 PST

Almost everyone in the gym shows up to work for a goal, be it overall health, bulking up, losing weight, or increased power and flexibility. Of course, there are a million different fitness roads you can take to get there and watching others work it out can be fascinating and (occasionally) giggle inducing. Whether you're attracted to the average man or a more muscular build, you've undoubtedly checked out your fellow gym goers getting their groove on. Here's a guide to decoding the most common types of gym guys and what we can learn from them. That is, when you're not just ogling their form.

The Former Athlete: The rest of the team may be just as tall as him now, but he's still the big man on campus. He shows up sporting his college gear though his frat days are a distant memory. He watches the game on the TV while cycling or running, but is dedicated to his workout. What's to love? Men with years of workout experience just get better with age. They remind us to appreciate a challenge - be it an occasional marathon, game of pick me up, or Sunday soccer league. The healthiest way to relive your glory days is to keep them alive.
The "I Will Pump You Up" Dude: Mike "The Situation." Vin Diesel. Jake Gyllenhaal circa Prince of Persia. These buffed up boys sustain themselves with protein shakes and pump serious iron. Why do we love them? Whether you like the body or not, you have to hand it to muscle-minded men for understanding the importance of a well-rounded routine. It takes daily dedication to maintain a beefcake bod.
The Marathoner: These guys head to the gym to get sweaty and compete with themselves. They are focused, goal-oriented, and typically don't pay much attention to other gym goers. Why do we love them? Runners understand that stretching is crucial, as is working different muscle groups and maintaining a schedule. They also know it's smart to plan days off to let your muscles heal and keep your knees healthy.

Keep reading for the rest of the list.

Grammy Awards: Adele

FabSugar — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 17:03:48 PST

Soulful songstress Adele schooled us tonight in the art of modern elegance, which she juxtaposed with retro glamour. Her custom black embellished Giorgio Armani gown instantly reminded us of Mad Men-inspired formality, but it was her crimson lips and '60s-style winged eyeliner that drove the nostalgic evening ensemble home. While her sparkly dress and impeccable makeup made a siren statement, her vintage cocktail ring and pendant earrings added quiet sparkle to the throwback look. Are you feeling Adele's Armani attire?

Vote on all of our Grammy Awards polls here!

30 Ways I See Love Differently at Age 30

YourTango — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 04:00:44 PST

We're happy to present this excerpt from one of our favorite sites, YourTango.

Writing about love is daunting. It really is.

To paint an accurate illustration of the way I felt when I first began tackling this topic, I ask you to envision me-a skinny, uncoordinated white girl measuring all of 5'3"-facing off with Shaquille O'Neal on the basketball court.

The entire scenario is silly and farcical, and that's exactly how I felt trying to form accurate conclusions about love, a force that is much like a giant on a basketball court. It's towering and intimidating and has the capacity to undo me. The challenge was intriguing, however, so I couldn't say no.

As I started brainstorming everything I’d learned about love over the short 30 years of my life, I quickly recognized that in pondering the mysteries of love, I was actually placing myself in the company of others who had sung and written and theorized about it. As I listened to their music, read their novels, and watched their films, the insights I gained helped shape my own. They bore witness to my experiences and gave voice to feelings I couldn’t otherwise articulate.

I share some of them with you here, intermingled with musings of my own.

Make a list, but don't let it rule you. It can be helpful to make a list of things you want in a romantic partner, and it can be equally helpful to throw that list away. Love asks that we remain open, and always ready for surprise.
Love doesn't require perfection. There were so many presumptions that I'd allowed to be built into my own mind about what a wife should be. I thought she should be a show-stopping cook and a brilliant entertainer, a nonstop quick wit, a wild thing in bed, an effortless nurturer . . . but, if I can be honest, my grandmother was none of these things and she still enjoyed one of the most legendary lives and marriages that I've ever seen.
Be realistic.In generations past, there was far less talk of "compatibility" and finding the ideal soul-mate. Today we are looking for someone who accepts us as we are and fulfills our desires, and this creates an unrealistic set of expectations that frustrates both the searchers and the searched for . . . In other words, some people in our culture want too much out of a marriage partner.
Let go. The more I let people be who they are, instead of cramming them into what I need from them, the more surprised I am by their beauty and depth.
Men are not from Mars and Women are not from Venus. Contrary to popular belief, I don't buy the idea that men and women come from different planets. We both live here on Earth, and in spite of a few rudimentary differences, such as personal interests, or ways of approaching the world, I see more similarities between the sexes with every year that goes by.

Find out the other lessons when you finish reading the rest of the story on YourTango: 30 Ways I See Love Differently at Age 30

Written by Christy Krumm for YourTango.

5 Reasons Playing Golf Is Good For Your Career

Diana Nguyen — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 05:00:52 PST

I know. Golf? I, too, was guilty of judging the sport as a slow, boring, old boys' club. But what was once TV programming to induce weekend napping is now one of my favorite sports to play, and not just for the health benefits. In fact, the greatest driving force behind why women play is for business reasons. There are more than six millions female golfers just in the United States, and here are five reasons why I think you should be one more - for the sake of your career.

Great networking opportunities. Golfers have a median household income of more than $80,000, and 93 percent of them own at least one home. Those statistics coupled with the fact that golf is a luxury sport (it's about $40 on average to play one round) makes its players generally affluent and successful. In the four to five hours to finish a round, you never know when you could befriend someone with the right connections.

Keep reading for four more reasons why you should take up the game.