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Movie News Roundup: Stephen King, Kevin Spacey, Sam Raimi Get Busy

BuzzSugar — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:36:49 -0700

Lots of intriguing movie news coming out of Hollywood today:

Kevin Spacey will star in the indie film Shrink as a depressed therapist who likes to ah, partake of the ganja. (A pot-smoking therapist? That sounds familiar.) His clients in the movie will include "Hollywood characters" like Robin Williams, Keke Palmer, Laura Ramsey and Gore Vidal, among others.
Columbia and Sam Raimi will team up together again after their Spider-Man ventures for yet another adaptation of a Dennis Lehane novel. Lehane's books make excellent screenplays, apparently, as Mystic River, Gone Baby Gone and the upcoming DiCaprio-Scorsese project Shutter Island have all been adapted. Next up, Raimi will direct a film version of The Given Day, which follows Boston cops in 1919.
Speaking of adaptations, the rights to an as-yet-unpublished Stephen King novella Throttle - which he wrote with his son Joe Hill - have already been optioned. The story is about "father-son members of a motorcycle gang that's chased through the desert by an 18-wheel tanker truck." The novella will be a part of a 2009 anthology dedicated to I Am Legend author Richard Matheson.

Buzz-Worthy Video: Sneak Peek at Chuck Season 3!

BuzzSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:30:24 -0800

I was so excited yesterday to learn that Chuck's third season premiere has been scheduled - and it's less than two months away. Still, the big two-hour kickoff can't come soon enough for me, especially after last year's epic finale. If you feel my pain, then you need to check out this sneak peek at the upcoming season. Zach Levi (sporting a new, shorter 'do) presents a very sweet message thanking his fans for all their support before showing a brand-new clip.

Even though Chuck has been given an upgrade, he's just as goofy and lovable as ever. Casey and Sarah are back undercover as our hero tries to play debonair once again - only this time he's actually got a few skills. We also get a taste for that famous sexual tension between Chuck and Sarah. I'm already counting the days so to check it out just read more.

Photo courtesy of NBC

Disney's A Christmas Carol: A Fun New Spin on an Old Favorite

BuzzSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:00:00 -0800

Charles Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol is, quite literally, a tale as old as time. Hollywood has already turned the novel into countless films, so how do you keep it fresh to entertain old and young audiences alike? You give them a pair of 3-D glasses.

I was a bit skeptical about Disney's newest remake of the flick, even with the super stylized animation and all-star cast behind the voices. But once you put on those glasses, you'll be oohing and aahing right along with the kids, making the film a fun ride. It doesn't tug on the heartstrings the way other versions can, but it's not devoid of emotion either. To see what I mean, just read more.

Robert Zemeckis brings the story we already know and love; old Ebenezer Scrooge (voiced by Jim Carrey) defines miserly and crotchety, spending his days counting his pennies and bitterly snapping at those around him. On one particularly Christmas Eve, he his haunted by the ghost of his former partner, Jacob Marley. Sporting chains and a ghastly demeanor, Marley warns Scrooge that he will suffer the same miserable fate if he doesn't take heed of three spirits who will visit him over the course of the night.

The film stays very true to Dickens's short novel, borrowing much of the text straight from the book and incorporating some of the darker elements that I hadn't seen before in versions designed for kids. That said, I still feel like some of the scenes waver on the side of being too scary. Marley's introduction with the chains is frightening but funny, whereas the progression of the ghost of Christmas present to the ghost of Christmas future (complete with full decay from giant to skeleton) probably would have given me nightmares when I was younger.

The special effects are all you could want and more; the 3-D pulls you right in, carrying you along with Scrooge as he flies overhead in his nightgown (and later spits in your face). You're in the midst of Victorian England at Christmas time, from the snowstorms to the festive music. It's dazzling - until you hit the emotional stuff.

The tale is one with a great big heart, but the actors can only go so far using their voices alone. In the most sentimental scenes, I found myself just wishing I could see the big name actors (which includes Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, and Robin Wright Penn) gazing into each other's eyes pointedly. Instead, it feels a bit like watching two mannequins standing face to face. Still, you're never bored for long, and there's always another thrill waiting at every turn.

In the end, Disney accomplishes its goal, producing a film that looks amazing and will entertain kids and adults alike. It may not be the best version of the tale to date, but it will leave you feeling plenty merry on your way out of the theater.

Photos courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures

This Is It: A Worthy Final Farewell

BuzzSugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:30:00 -0700

Making a tribute film after the death of an icon is a difficult undertaking - how do you do justice to his or her life without making it feel overblown? But the new Michael Jackson documentary, This Is It manages to strike that balance. The anticipation for its limited release has been building for more than a month now when early ticket purchases broke sales records, and most of you said you wanted to see the film as well. I was worried about how the doc would measure up to the hype, but I'm satisfied with the final product.

This Is it follows Jackson in his final days preparing for his sold-out tour. MJ emerges dressed in a button-down, shades on, and with director Kenny Ortega at his right hand, as we get a front row seat at the rehearsals. It proves to be an intimate look at the performer who, even at 50, still had a fiery passion for his craft. Most of us will enjoy witnessing it here on the big screen, while others may leave the theater feeling even more disappointed about never getting to see the live show. To see what I mean, read more.

MJ fan or not, you can't see this film without feeling awestruck by his dramatic flair as an artist. His voice is still on point, and his every movement on stage is punctuated by a flick of the wrist or a kick - it's like the music surges inside him and he has to stream it out through his fingertips. He still had the magic only weeks before his death.

While Jackson's dance skills may be a given, I was actually taken aback by how hands on he was in all facets of his tour. This is It shows him working on everything from green screen films to teaching choreography to attending band rehearsals. These sneak peeks provide surprisingly funny moments, but one of the loud-and-clear messages of the film is that Jackson did this for his fans. All of the popular favorites are included - "Billie Jean," "Smooth Criminal," and "Thriller," of course. Jackson knew that's what the audience wanted, and he was happy to give it to us - while wearing his signature sparkly gold pants and a fedora.

The doc does have its drawbacks; some of the footage starts to feel stale midway through, and the film feels too long at nearly two hours. Still, I understand why the editors didn't cut anything in honor of Jackson's memory. Each song was important to him and he wanted listeners to hear his message. (He even speaks on his concern for environmental causes in the film). Before the closing credits, Jackson says he wants to "remind the world that love is important" - and even after his death, he manages to do so by leaving us with memories of a man who never stopped loving his fans or the music.

FlashForward Breakdown, "137 Sekunden"

BuzzSugar — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:00:46 -0700

This week's episode of FlashForward isn't exactly action-packed, but we do finally meet a few significant others - including Demetri's fiancee, Zoe - and get a bit more character insight and some clues about the blackout. Not to mention the introduction of one creepy former Nazi.

It wasn't my favorite of the first three episodes, but this show is still keeping me on the edge of my seat. Would ABC just pick up the full season already? To break it all down, just read more.

Did Mark and Janis get played?
The focal point of this week's episode is wrapped up in Guyer, a former Nazi who's imprisoned in Germany but sees his flashforward as a bargaining chip for freedom. When Mark hears that he makes an appearance in Guyer's vision, he and Janis soon square off about whether or not his "information" is worth setting a Nazi free. In the end, Guyer's biggest revelation is that the crows seem to have blacked out and died at the same time as the human race did. Janis and Mark are disappointed at first, until Mark realizes that this isn't the first time crows have "blacked out." Last week there was talk of pigeons, now crows. Could the mysterious blackouts be all wrapped up in birds?
Did Zoe really see Demetri in her flashforward?
Yay! This week we finally get to meet Demetri's fiancee, Zoe (Gabrielle Union). Am I the only one who is loving the couples on this show? Mark and Olivia are often very sweet together, but I'm also digging Demetri and Zoe's younger love. When Zoe describes her wedding day flashforward to Demetri, she seems totally confident that he is there - but does she actually see him, or just assume as much? While some of the other visions seem hard to believe given the six-month interim period (Olivia sleeps with a new man, boyfriend-less Janis is already pregnant) - this one takes the cake for me. If Demetri is really murdered, could his fiancee recover and find a new man to wed that quickly? I'm banking on the glimmer of hope that this means Demetri can overturn his fate.
Is Tracy alive or not?
Determined to get to the bottom of the veracity of his flashforward, Aaron pays a visit to his ex-wife, hoping to get her permission to exhume their daughter's body for DNA. We see that Aaron's not the only one who's been deeply impacted by his daughter's death, though Katie still refuses to sign the affidavit. Eventually, Aaron gets around it and has Demetri dig up the body - though the DNA is a match, meaning that Tracy really is dead. So, is Aaron lying or is it possible that his vision may not come true after all? I'm wondering if this could be a sign that some of the flashforwards come true and others don't? Though, I have a feeling that we'll still see Aaron heading to Afghanistan sometime soon.

Other points:

Nicole the babysitter is still MIA (perhaps spending some time in that other life of hers). I'm dying to know what she saw, so hopefully she comes back soon.

Um, isn't Dominic Monaghan supposed to be on the show? Let's add him to the list of people we want to see next week.

If all the crows die in the flashforward, what about the other animals? Is there going to be a tie-in to that kangaroo we saw hopping around?

Is Demetri going to report Jerome Murphy and his bong-hitting ways? I totally would!

So are you still lovin' FlashForward, or are you losing interest? Which of the visions are you most curious about?

Is the Jim and Pam Wedding Episode Overhyped?

BuzzSugar — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:30:00 -0700

The big moment we've all been waiting for is just about here: Jim Halpert and Pam Beesly will finally be married in an hour-long special episode of The Office tonight!

NBC (and the entertainment world in general) has gone all-out for the event, including an EW cover, video teasers, talk show appearances, even their own wedding site.

I can't wait to finally see Pam and Jim tie the knot, but you'd almost think we were being prepped for the series finale given all the promotion. What do you think - are you more excited than ever or is there too much buildup to Jim and Pam's big day?

Photo courtesy of NBC

Could Rachel Bilson Be HIMYM's Mother?!

BuzzSugar — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:30:25 -0700

How I Met Your Mother has given us a fair share of teases in the past (Ted's engagement to Stella, his wedding dream in this week's episode), but this one may take the cake. The adorable Rachel Bilson is set to to make an appearance in the show's upcoming 100th episode, and apparently it may be more than a cameo.

According to Entertainment Weekly, the 100th episode will play a vital (legendary, if you will) role in Ted's meeting of his future wife. Apparently the execs really wanted to take their time to choose the right actress for the episode.

Sadly we won't get to see the episode until January, which means we've got at least three long months to speculate. I've loved Bilson since her days on The O.C., and she quite possibly could make a perfect match for Ted. Would you be excited about Bilson, or did you always envision someone else as "the mother"?

ABC Brings TV Show From the Writers of (500) Days of Summer

BuzzSugar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:30:26 -0700

What if the Friends loft and Central Perk were infiltrated by hipsters? We might find out soon, because ABC has just struck a deal to make a sitcom called Friends With Benefits from the writers of this Summer's indie rom-com (500) Days of Summer.

Scott Neustadter and Michael Weber have been given the green light to bring their show to TV, saying, "It's about a group of twenty-somethings at a point in their lives that everyone can relate to, when they ask questions like: 'Is this your girlfriend or someone you just hang out with? Is this a job, or is this a career?'"

It's a familiar concept, but a pretty timeless one - relationships can always be mined for fodder, and when you add young, good-looking actors, you have a recipe for potential success. It's not a far cry from (500) Days, which finds a new way to detail what happens when boy meets girl. I thought the movie was sweet despite its too-hip leanings, so I'd probably watch this. Oh, and the Wedding Crashers director is attached to shoot the pilot. Intrigued yet?

Photos courtesy Fox Searchlight and Getty

Win A Starter Wife Gift Bag!!

PopSugar — Mon, 28 May 2007 10:21:33 -0700

In case you missed this post from Friday.... Earlier this week we saw Debra Messing looking stunning at the screening of her new miniseries, The Starter Wife. The series, based on Gigi Levangie Grazer's New York Times bestseller, looks to be as fun to watch, as it is to read.

In celebration of The Starter Wife and all things beautifying and empowering, the fabulous folks at USA Networks have given us 5 of these amazing bags to give away to you! The bag includes goodies like the book, yoga gear (to clear the mind), Essie nail polish (to get glam) and more!

All you have to do is leave a comment below and you are automatically entered to win! The contest ends May 30th, and the next day the The Starter Wife premieres on USA! So get commenting before we decide to keep all these fun goodies for ourselves!

To hear more about this fabulous contest and find out all the goodies in the bag just read more

Leave a comment in the comments section below, and you'll be entered in this fabulous giveaway. Just be sure to comment by 5 p.m. PDT / 8 p.m. EDT Wednesday, May 30, and we'll announce the winner on Thursday. Please, only ONE comment per person; duplicate comments will be discarded, so commenting more than once won't up your chances of winning. Also, you must be a TeamSugar member to comment, so if you're not a member, please register here for an account. For all of the rules and regulations, just click here. Good luck!

Valued at approximately $250, the Malibu Survival Kit Tote Bag
items in tote include:

Branded Pink Gaiam Yoga Mat
Branded Pink Tank Top by American Apparel
The Starter Wife Pocketbook
The Starter Wife Branded Scarf
The Starter Wife branded nail file
The Starter Wife nail kit w/ Starter Wife branded nail file, "STARTER WIFE" Essie nail polish, toe separators trial size Pond’s Clean Sweep Towelette, plastic pink cuticle pusher
Set of Essie’s Spring 2007 colors
Starter Wife Too Faced Mini Quickie Chronicle
Pond's Clean Sweep Toweletter, 30 ct.
Pond's AgeDefeye
Pond's Time Rewind
Pond's Smooth Perfection
Yoga Pose Cards
16oz reusable water bottle
LA Streetwise map