The cast and crew of “The Bourne Legacy” are currently filming in Manila, but today we’re getting a glimpse at Jeremy Renner as the new super-spy, in the first teaser trailer of the Tony Gilroy-directed action thriller.

The “Psycho”-esque promo reveals Renner’s character as Kenneth Gibson, despite being listed in the credits as Aaron Cross. Also starring Edward Norton, Rachel Weisz, Joan Allen, and Albert Finney, the movie will be shown in U.S. theaters on August 3.

WATCH:

What can you say about the “Bourne Legacy” teaser trailer? Do you think Renner has what it takes to succeed Matt Damon in the franchise?

Post from: Daily Contributor

‘The Bourne Legacy’ teaser trailer hits the web [VIDEO]

For the first time in Manila, the world-renowned Cirque Mother Africa (created by professional acrobat Winston Ruddle) will dazzle and mesmerize local audiences with wild African music, dance and performance in a two-hour showcase.

The series of performances will start from April 19 to 22 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World Manila.

Having performed in sold out shows staged in Germany, Italy, Romania,
Russia, Netherlands, Australia, Belgium and Spain – Cirque Mother Africa will tantalize audiences in Manila with a unique African-themed spectacle.

Dancers, percussionists, singers, acrobats and contortionists energetically take to the stage in a celebration of the culture of the traditional and modern African arts & culture.

The heartbeat of Africa pulsates throughout the jaw-dropping show as the musicians and artistes articulate their passion and love for their homeland including Ethiopia, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Ivory Coast, Benin, Zimbabwe, and Guinea.

The innovative show combines the talents from nine African countries to provide the wonder, suspense and joy of Cirque Mother Africa.

The show is a delight for the senses with items spun through the air, bodies contorted into mind-boggling shapes, and performers balance on other performers, percussionists beat up a storm of sound and traditional dancers tell their own stories. The audience will be overwhelmed by the complexity and versatility of these world-class acts.

Masks, drums, beads, and amazing costumes all bring forth the feel of
authentic African traditions.

Cirque Mother Africa is not just a traditional African show. It also has a take on the modern, fresh and dynamic culture of the new Africa. Young acrobats perform feats that belong in any world-class circus, and energetic young performers compete in tap-dancing that is a toe-tapping delight. This is a fresh and fantastic show that evokes passion and demands a response.

Audiences are encouraged, prodded and charmed to actively respond rather than to simply watch a breath-taking spectacle.

Cirque Mother Africa 2012 can be seen from April 19 to 22 at Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World Manila. Tickets are available at selected National Book Stores, Robinsons Department Stores, Cinema Lobby – Greenbelt 1 and Trinoma. You may also inquire at TicketWorld Office, www.ticketworld.com.ph, or call 891-9999 for bookings & reservations.

EXCLUSIVE! Enjoy a 15% discount from February 7-20 by calling the
following hotlines 0916-3403919 or 0921-5642108

Post from: Daily Contributor

Cirque Mother Africa to Perform at Resorts World Manila

Mark our words: February is going to be epic on AXN! Kick starting the lineup in the beginning of the month is the highly anticipated return of singing reality competition series The Voice Season 2.

Premiering on February 6, 2012 within 24 hours of the US broadcast is Season 2 of The Voice, offering aspiring singers the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be mentored by celebrity coaches. Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine, Cee Lo Green and Blake Shelton return with their sizzling chemistry and their trademark red swiveling chairs to judge contestants solely on their vocal talent and not their looks. If more than one coach turns to pick a particular singer, the tide turns and the choice of coach goes to the singer. This season, show producer Mark Burnett has added more rounds of blind auditions and each of the coaches’ teams will be expanded to 12 singers each.

The ante is certainly upped in terms of the diversity and quality of the contestants this season, with Aguilera bagging ‘everything from an opera singer, powerhouse MC to soul singers’ on her team. What is interesting is that savvy contestants who are in demand now know how to play the game, and have taken the opportunity to push the coaches a little further and wrangle for commitment to be kept for a few rounds.

Season 1’s contestants have done well for themselves so far; winner Javier Colon has released a new album in collaboration with Natasha Bedingfield and his coach, Adam Levine, while first runner-up Dia Frampton has also launched her album with the help of coach Blake Shelton. Other contestants – Beverly McClellan from Team Aguilera and Vicci Martinez from Team Cee Lo have also begun recording after the show ended.

Talent-spotting aside, be sure to keep an eye out for new songs from the coaches themselves! After all, Season 1 was the launchpad for Shelton’s Honey Bee, a country chart-topper, as well as the Maroon 5-Aguilera single Moves Like Jagger which hit No. 1 on the Hot 100 list. And as Aguilera teased, look out for the ‘kickass’ opening performance by the coaches this season!

*The Voice Season 2 premieres on 6 Feb 2012, Mon at 10.55pm
Viewers are invited to visit www.axn-asia.com for the latest update on their broadcast schedules or follow them on Twitter @axnasia for more info.

Post from: Daily Contributor

The Voice Seson 2 – First in Asia on AXN

HBO won five awards, the most of any television network this year, at the 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards which took place at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. Wins for the premium cable TV network this year are for the following titles:

Two wins for BOARDWALK EMPIRE:

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series (Steve Buscemi) and Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

The new season of BOARDWALK EMPIRE premieres Thursday, March 8 at 9pm on HBO HD / 10pm on HBO.

One win for TOO BIG TO FAIL:

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries (Paul Giamatti)

TOO BIG TO FAIL premieres Friday, February 17 at 8.15pm on HBO Signature.

One win for MILDRED PIERCE:

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries (Kate Winslet)

Catch MILDRED PIERCE on HBO Signature in May.

One win for GAME OF THRONES:

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series

The second season of GAME OF THRONES premieres on Saturday, April 21 at 8pm on HBO HD / 9pm on HBO. Also catch the marathon weekend of the first season from Saturday, April 14 on HBO Signature.

Post from: Daily Contributor

HBO nabs 5 SAG Awards

Seal‘s music career is somehow in a state of flux. Now it appears as if the “Kiss from a Rose” singer has more important personal matters to deal with.

According to a report on TMZ, Heidi Klum has plans to file for divorce from her husband of six years. A source has apparently confirmed to the celebrity news website that the 38-year-old German supermodel will file papers with the Los Angeles County Superior Court sometime next week, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split.

The couple tied the knot in May 2005 and have renewed their vows on their anniversary every year. Heidi and Seal, 48, had three children together: Henry Günther, 6, Johan Riley, 5, and Lou, 2.

Reports of their split come as a shock to a lot of people, especially to their fans, as the couple has always presented the picture of a happy family.

There has been no comment from their reps on the divorce issue.

Post from: Daily Contributor

Heidi Klum to file for divorce from Seal after almost seven years of marriage

Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani, who starred with Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio in the 2008 film Body of Lies, has been banned from returning to her homeland because of this photoshoot.

The “naked if only her hands didn’t get in the way” photograph published in French magazine Madame Le Figaro has caused plenty of uproar in Iran and now the government has made Farahani persona non grata. The 28-year-old thespian, now based in Paris, posed for the mag as a protest against the violations of women’s rights in the Islamic republic.

Fans of Farahani on Facebook have reacted to her nude photo, with some praising her boldness and defending her right to self-expression.

“The world needs more women like you… Do not be defeated by the oppressors and women haters who pervert religion for their own gain… Women: unite!!,” commented one FB user.

Farahani’s role as DiCaprio’s love interest in Body of Lies made her the first Iranian to act in a major Hollywood film.

Post from: Daily Contributor

Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani banned from her home country after posing ‘topless’

If you’re a foodie and a Capcom fan, you’re in luck!

The maker of videogames like Street Fighter, Mega Man, and Dead Rising is opening a bar/restaurant in Japan, complete with game kiosks, a merchandise store and a Capcom-themed menu, including the brain cake, which is based on Resident Evil.

The Cap Bar is scheduled to open on January 25 in Shinjuku, Tokyo.

[Hat tip to Joystiq]

Post from: Daily Contributor

Capcom-themed restobar to open in Tokyo

The Artist has already won three Golden Globes (including one for best musical/comedy), but the perky comedy is also causing quite a stir in the United Kingdom.

According to reports, moviegoers are walking out of cinemas and demanding their money back after discovering the French film has no sound and the screen is smaller. A spokesperson for Odeon Liverpool One confirmed “it has issued a small number of refunds to guests who were unaware that The Artist was a silent film”.

Written and directed by Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist has no dialogue, just subtitles. The film was purposely reduced to a smaller screen size to give it a more authentic, silent movie feel.

The Artist tells the story of silent star George Valentin (played by Jean Dujardin) whose career is destroyed by the “talkies”. The film is nominated for 12 BAFTAs and is tipped to dominate next month’s Academy Awards.

Check out the trailer after the jump.

Post from: Daily Contributor

Brits walk out over lack of dialogue in ‘The Artist’

Black-and-white silent film The Artist and family drama The Descendants took home the best picture trophies at Sunday’s 69th annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California.

The Descendants won two Golden Globes, including best drama and lead actor in a drama for George Clooney, who stars in the film as a Hawaii land baron steering his family through a tragic period when his wife is in a coma. Wins for The Artist, a movie about the early days of talking pictures in Hollywood, included best musical or comedy and best actor in a musical or comedy for Jean Dujardin.

Meryl Streep picked up the award for best actress in a drama for her portrayal of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady. The 62-year-old actress called her win “a thriller” and “embarrassing” before thanking her agent and producer Harvey Weinstein. She also credited “everybody in England who let me come in and trample all over their history.”

Here’s the full list of winners at Golden Globes 2012:

MOTION PICTURES

Picture, Drama: “The Descendants.”

Picture, Musical or Comedy: “The Artist.”

Actor, Drama: George Clooney, “The Descendants.”

Actress, Drama: Meryl Streep, “The Iron Lady.”

Director: Martin Scorsese, “Hugo.”

Actor, Musical or Comedy: Jean Dujardin, “The Artist.”

Actress, Musical or Comedy: Michelle Williams, “My Week with Marilyn.”

Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer, “Beginners.”

Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer, “The Help.”

Foreign Language: “A Separation.”

Animated Film: “The Adventures of Tintin.”

Screenplay: Woody Allen, “Midnight in Paris.”

Original Score: Ludovic Bource, “The Artist.”

Original Song: “Masterpiece” (music and lyrics by Madonna, Julie Frost, Jimmy Harry), “W.E.”

TELEVISION

Series, Drama: “Homeland,” Showtime.

Series, Musical or Comedy: “Modern Family,” ABC.

Actor, Drama: Kelsey Grammer, “Boss.”

Actress, Drama: Claire Danes, “Homeland.”

Actress, Musical or Comedy: Laura Dern, “Enlightened.”

Actor, Musical or Comedy: Matt LeBlanc, “Episodes.”

Miniseries or Movie: “Downton Abbey (Masterpiece),” PBS.

Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Kate Winslet, “Mildred Pierce.”

Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Idris Elba, “Luther.”

Supporting Actress, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Jessica Lange, “American Horror Story.”

Supporting Actor, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Peter Dinklage, “Game of Thrones.”

PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED

Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award: Morgan Freeman.

*Nominations for the 84th Academy Awards (Oscars 2012) will be announced on January 24 and the telecast is set for February 26.

[Photo credit: Goldenglobes.org]

Post from: Daily Contributor

Golden Globes 2012: And the winners are…

The full lineup for this year’s Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival has been announced. The list of musicians who are slated to perform at the massive Indio, California event was posted on the official Coachella Facebook page.

Radiohead, The Black Keys, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg will headline the six-day concert, but more than 100 acts are expected to perform, including Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Arctic Monkeys, Jimmy Cliff, Bon Iver, Pulp, Florence and the Machine, Swedish House Mafia and Mazzy Star.

Coachella will take place April 13-15 and April 20-22 at the Empire Polo Club grounds. Tickets will range from $285 for a three-day pass to $665 to a VIP festival pass.

Post from: Daily Contributor

Coachella 2012 lineup announced

The hunt is on. That is, for the pictures of Jay-Z and Beyonce’s newborn baby Blue Ivy Carter.

This early, celebrity photographers all over the world are scampering all over the place to get probably the hottest photography subject or subjects these days – baby Blue and her famous parents. According to Gary Morgan of Splash! Photo agency, global rights for Blue and her parents could fetch up to half a million dollars. “If it’s the picture everyone wants, which is Beyoncé and Jay-Z together with their baby enjoying her for the first time, and it’s exclusive, it could be well over $100,000 for first rights in the U.S., and up to half a million for global rights depending on how long it’s exclusive,” Morgan said according to USA Today.

Interest in Blue is very high because her parents are very private despite their superstar status. “They’re very discrete,” Janice Min of Hollywood Reported said. “They don’t walk red carpets together. They don’t talk about each other much in interviews. The mystery of who they are and how they live their lives propels interest in their child.”

Post from: Daily Contributor

Beyonce’s Baby Blue Ivy: New Paparazzi Target

European fast food chain Quick is rolling out three new limited edition cheeseburgers to celebrate the release of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace in 3D.

The Star Wars-themed meals, which will be available from January 31 to March 1 in French and Belgian stores, come in three varieties: Dark, Dark Vador and Jedi. Yes, they’re calling it Dark Vador, and I have no idea why its name is misspelled.

The Darth Vader burger has a jet-black bun, the Darth Maul a red bun, and the Yoda sandwich has some chunky stuff, which looks like marshmallows.

I wonder if there will be a Jabba the Hutt version?

[Hat tip to FoodBeast]

Post from: Daily Contributor

Star Wars-themed burgers coming to Europe

The “Queen of Soul” has found her king. Aretha Franklin revealed earlier this week that she and longtime friend William “Willie” Wilkerson are engaged.

Franklin and Wilkerson got engaged during the holidays, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Franklin told the Associated Pres that a wedding in the summer may be in the horizon. The 69-year-old music legend said that she has now a shortlist of the designers who will make her wedding gown. Included in the list are Donna Karan, Vera Wang, and Valentino.

It will be the third marriage for Franklin. She was first married to Ted White in 1961 before they divorced in 1969. She married for the second time in 1978, this time to actor Glynn Turman. Franklin’s second marriage ended in 1984 although she and Turman remained friends after their divorce.

When asked what spurred her to get engaged, the “Natural Woman” singer joked that it was not pregnancy. ” No, I’m not pregnant,” Franklin jokingly told the Associated Press.

Post from: Daily Contributor

Aretha Franklin is Engaged

Demi Moore has been cast as feminist Gloria Steinem in the upcoming film about “Deep Throat” star Linda Lovelace.

Moore, who filed for divorce from husband Ashton Kutcher in November last year, will act alongside Amanda Seyfried, who will play Lovelace. “Lovelace” is one of two upcoming biopics about the famous adult star who played the main role in what is perhaps the most popular pornographic film of all time. The other film about Lovelace is “Inferno: A Linda Lovelace Story,” whose star was originally Lindsay Lohan before her legal troubles set in. Malin Ackerman has now been cast in the title role.

“Lovelace” boasts of an all-star cast that includes James Franco as Hugh Hefner, Peter Sarsgaard as Lovelace’s husband, Chuck Traynor, and Hank Azaria as “Deep Throat” director Jerry Damiano. The ensemble cast also includes Sharon Stone, Adam Brody, Eric Roberts, and Chris Noth, among others.

Steinem is an important character in the movie as it was the feminist and journalist who wrote a profile of Lovelace in Ms. Magazine, where she claimed that the “Deep Throat” star was coerced and physically abused to force her to become a porn actress.

Post from: Daily Contributor

Demi Moore to Play Feminist Gloria Steinem in Lovelace Biopic

We all know that Facebook has the commanding lead in social media today, and in an effort to save Google+ from total oblivion, The Muppets make an appearance on a recent advertisement.

WATCH:

Personally, I’d recommend hanging out on G+ until this whole FB thing blows over.

Post from: Daily Contributor

Can The Muppets Save Google Plus?