Jack the Giant Slayer" — A big-budget, 3-D retelling of the Jack and the Beanstalk legend may seem like the unlikeliest pairing yet of director Bryan Singer and writer Christopher McQuarrie, but this ends up being smart, thrilling and a whole lot of fun.
Singer and McQuarrie's collaborations include, most famously, the twisty crime mystery "The Usual Suspects" and the Hitler assassination drama "Valkyrie," featuring an eye patch-wearing Tom Cruise. They've sort of been all over the place together over the past couple decades — why not reinterpret a classic fairy tale? "Jack the Giant Slayer" is cheeky without being cutesy.
While the look is medieval, the vibe seems more current, but it's not so anachronistic as to be subversive along the lines of a "Shrek," for example. It actually ends up being pleasingly old-fashioned. Shot in 3-D — rather than one of those muddled 2-D re-dos — the film looks crisp and clean, much more so than the trailers and ads might suggest.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
AEG just made this more risky for Michael
AEG attorney Marvin Putnam said he was pleased with the ruling and reiterated his belief that the case should have never been filed.
The case centers on whether AEG did an appropriate investigation of Conrad Murray, a former cardiologist who is serving his sentence after being convicted of the involuntary manslaughter of the pop singer. The case also involves whether AEG controlled him while Jackson prepared for a series of comeback concerts.
Katherine Jackson's attorney, Kevin Boyle, declined comment after the hearing, saying he wanted to see the final order.
He told Palazuelos that AEG created a division of loyalties for Murray between his care of Jackson and maintaining an arrangement that would have paid him $150,000 a month to care for the singer.
Jackson died before Murray's contract was signed, and AEG argues he was not an employee of the company.
"AEG just made this more risky for Michael," Boyle argued Monday.
The case centers on whether AEG did an appropriate investigation of Conrad Murray, a former cardiologist who is serving his sentence after being convicted of the involuntary manslaughter of the pop singer. The case also involves whether AEG controlled him while Jackson prepared for a series of comeback concerts.
Katherine Jackson's attorney, Kevin Boyle, declined comment after the hearing, saying he wanted to see the final order.
He told Palazuelos that AEG created a division of loyalties for Murray between his care of Jackson and maintaining an arrangement that would have paid him $150,000 a month to care for the singer.
Jackson died before Murray's contract was signed, and AEG argues he was not an employee of the company.
"AEG just made this more risky for Michael," Boyle argued Monday.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Songwriter Diane Lampert Dead at 88
Diane Charlotte Lampert, a songwriter who contributed lyrics to a long catalog of pop and rockabilly hits along with the title songs for more than 20 movies, died on Friday in New York City at the age of 88, the Associated Press reports.
Lampert was born in the Bronx, New York in 1924. She made a career in the 1950s and 1960s co-writing songs that were performed by artists including Brenda Lee, Harry Nilsson, George Jones, the Seekers and the Letterman. Her movie credits include the title songs for the films The Snow Queen, I'll Take Sweden, Billie, and Silent Running, as well as songs for The Wild and the Innocent, and Trees Lounge.
Along with Eddie Fontaine, Cirino Colacrai and John Gluck, Lampert wrote the rockabilly hit, "Nothin' Shakin' (But the Leaves on the Trees)," which the Beatles recorded for a BBC radio show in 1963. The track was released on the 1994 album Live at the BBC.
Lampert was born in the Bronx, New York in 1924. She made a career in the 1950s and 1960s co-writing songs that were performed by artists including Brenda Lee, Harry Nilsson, George Jones, the Seekers and the Letterman. Her movie credits include the title songs for the films The Snow Queen, I'll Take Sweden, Billie, and Silent Running, as well as songs for The Wild and the Innocent, and Trees Lounge.
Along with Eddie Fontaine, Cirino Colacrai and John Gluck, Lampert wrote the rockabilly hit, "Nothin' Shakin' (But the Leaves on the Trees)," which the Beatles recorded for a BBC radio show in 1963. The track was released on the 1994 album Live at the BBC.
Friday, February 22, 2013
In the teaser video released last month
It's always fun when you cross over lines, you know, in the show business world. It's always fun to go into somebody else's thing and vice versa. So that in itself is just reason enough to do it. My wife is really into Wale so she's playing the stuff and I'm getting into it so it was all great.
Yeah. I think he asked a few times until I finally decided that it would be a fun thing to do.
Well, his guys were there. And we just went in the studio and just started talking. And they just wanted me to say things, whatever I thought about various things. They would ask me things and I would just tell them what I thought. And then they have to do their thing with it, which takes a while as I understand. But just for me to hang out with guys like that was the coolest, you know? Because I don't hang out with 19-year-old music guys. So it was great.
In the teaser video released last month, you said the lines were blurry between hip-hop and standup comedy.
Yeah. I think he asked a few times until I finally decided that it would be a fun thing to do.
Well, his guys were there. And we just went in the studio and just started talking. And they just wanted me to say things, whatever I thought about various things. They would ask me things and I would just tell them what I thought. And then they have to do their thing with it, which takes a while as I understand. But just for me to hang out with guys like that was the coolest, you know? Because I don't hang out with 19-year-old music guys. So it was great.
In the teaser video released last month, you said the lines were blurry between hip-hop and standup comedy.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Frank Ocean in Elaborate Ceremony
Emeli Sandé and Ben Howard were the big winners at the 2013 BRIT Awards, on a night when singer-songwriters trumped rock and pop stars and performers often outshone the award winners.
Sandé picked up the big award, the MasterCard British Album of the Year, at the ceremony, held Wednesday at the O2 Arena in London. Roxy Music's Bryan Ferry presented her with the award for Our Version of Events, the biggest-selling album in the UK in 2012. She also picked up British Female Solo Artist and closed the show with a performance of "Clown," solo at her piano, and "Next to Me," featuring a full band and a gospel-style choir.
I think I'm a very unlikely pop star," she said backstage after her British Album win. "This is an album I made because I didn't have the confidence to say these things in person. So many people connected with this album and it makes me feel incredible."
Sandé picked up the big award, the MasterCard British Album of the Year, at the ceremony, held Wednesday at the O2 Arena in London. Roxy Music's Bryan Ferry presented her with the award for Our Version of Events, the biggest-selling album in the UK in 2012. She also picked up British Female Solo Artist and closed the show with a performance of "Clown," solo at her piano, and "Next to Me," featuring a full band and a gospel-style choir.
I think I'm a very unlikely pop star," she said backstage after her British Album win. "This is an album I made because I didn't have the confidence to say these things in person. So many people connected with this album and it makes me feel incredible."
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
The court refused to hear Curb's appeal
The Tennessee Supreme Court has put an end to Curb Records' fight to keep Tim McGraw off another label — two weeks after he released his new album with Big Machine Records.
The court refused to hear Curb's appeal of a lower court's ruling that McGraw was free to record with whomever he wished while his legal fight with his longtime label continued through the court system. An appeals court affirmed that ruling last year and Curb sought the Supreme Court's help. The court signed an order last week denying the appeal.
McGraw released "Two Lanes of Freedom" on his new label on Feb. 5. It debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 all-genre albums chart, selling more than 106,000 copies. It's the first album of his career not to be released on Curb.
The court refused to hear Curb's appeal of a lower court's ruling that McGraw was free to record with whomever he wished while his legal fight with his longtime label continued through the court system. An appeals court affirmed that ruling last year and Curb sought the Supreme Court's help. The court signed an order last week denying the appeal.
McGraw released "Two Lanes of Freedom" on his new label on Feb. 5. It debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 all-genre albums chart, selling more than 106,000 copies. It's the first album of his career not to be released on Curb.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
McCartney singing Hey Jude
Xu recalls his old friend, the established rock band Tang Dynasty's bassist Zhang Ju, who died in a motorcycle accident in 1995.
"In his diary, he wrote, 'Life is like a tree'. He loved life, loved people around him," he says.
"When you listened to 70-year-old Paul McCartney singing Hey Jude at the Opening Ceremony of London Olympic Games, you felt love, didn't you?"
Recently, Xu also signed a contract with Beijing Gehua Live Nation Co, a leading live-performance organizer, which has brought international artists like Bob Dylan and Irish rock band The Cranberries to China.
Xu will kick off his national tour in May, which he calls the biggest in his career.
"As I am getting older and older, the world becomes bigger and bigger to me. I am still learning," he says. "I want to sing for people who share their lives, their youth with me, through my songs."
"In his diary, he wrote, 'Life is like a tree'. He loved life, loved people around him," he says.
"When you listened to 70-year-old Paul McCartney singing Hey Jude at the Opening Ceremony of London Olympic Games, you felt love, didn't you?"
Recently, Xu also signed a contract with Beijing Gehua Live Nation Co, a leading live-performance organizer, which has brought international artists like Bob Dylan and Irish rock band The Cranberries to China.
Xu will kick off his national tour in May, which he calls the biggest in his career.
"As I am getting older and older, the world becomes bigger and bigger to me. I am still learning," he says. "I want to sing for people who share their lives, their youth with me, through my songs."
Monday, February 18, 2013
Grammy award for best new artist
Presenter Katy Perry holds out the Grammy award for best new artist to Nate Ruess, singer from Fun, at the 55th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, February 10, 2013.
Like Mumford & Sons, Gotye busted up the predictions, taking record of the year for 2012's top-selling single, the haunting "Somebody That I Used To Know," featuring New Zealand's Kimbra, and finished with three awards.
Prince, in hood and sunglasses and carrying a sparkly silver cane, presented him with the record of the year trophy and the Australian paid tribute to The Purple One's influence.
"A little bit lost for words, to receive an award from the man standing behind us with the cane," the Belgian-Australian Gotye said. "Many years listening to this man's music growing up and a big reason I was inspired to make music. Thank you."
Like Mumford & Sons, Gotye busted up the predictions, taking record of the year for 2012's top-selling single, the haunting "Somebody That I Used To Know," featuring New Zealand's Kimbra, and finished with three awards.
Prince, in hood and sunglasses and carrying a sparkly silver cane, presented him with the record of the year trophy and the Australian paid tribute to The Purple One's influence.
"A little bit lost for words, to receive an award from the man standing behind us with the cane," the Belgian-Australian Gotye said. "Many years listening to this man's music growing up and a big reason I was inspired to make music. Thank you."
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
NFL Finds No Indication That Beyonce Caused Super Bowl Power Outage
Despite the popular rumor that Beyoncé's halftime show caused the 35-minute power outage during the second half of the Super Bowl, the NFL finds no connection between the two, Reuters reports. The NFL has been working with the city of New Orleans to find the reason why the lights went out at the Superdome, but NFL commissioner Roger Goodell eliminated the pop star's theatrics as the culprit.
"There's no indication at all that this was caused by the halftime show," Goodell stated. "I know that's out there, that Beyonce's halftime show had something to do with it. That is not the case from anything we have at this point."
The utility company providing power to the Superdome said that their feeders were serving the stadium throughout the outage. Doug Thorton, the senior vice president of the Superdome's management company, pointed to "an abnormality" with the Superdome's power system but added that it was "too early" to speculate on specifics.
"There's no indication at all that this was caused by the halftime show," Goodell stated. "I know that's out there, that Beyonce's halftime show had something to do with it. That is not the case from anything we have at this point."
The utility company providing power to the Superdome said that their feeders were serving the stadium throughout the outage. Doug Thorton, the senior vice president of the Superdome's management company, pointed to "an abnormality" with the Superdome's power system but added that it was "too early" to speculate on specifics.
Monday, February 4, 2013
Beyonce Rocks Super Bowl Halftime Show With Destiny Is Child
She sang live — and sounded good. Days after admitting to singing to a pre-recorded track at President Barack Obama's inauguration, she proved herself to any doubters and added a few off-script remarks as if to show her microphone was on.
Her background singers helped out as Beyonce danced around the stage throughout most of the 13-minute performance. She was especially top-notch during "End of Time" and "Baby Boy."
She had a swarm of background dancers and band members spread throughout the stage, along with videotaped images of herself dancing. And the crowd got bigger when she was joined by her Destiny's Child band mates.
Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams popped up from below the stage to sing "Bootylicious." They were in similar outfits, singing and dancing closely as they harmonized. But Rowland and Williams were barely heard when the group sang "Independent Woman," as their voices faded into the background.
Her background singers helped out as Beyonce danced around the stage throughout most of the 13-minute performance. She was especially top-notch during "End of Time" and "Baby Boy."
She had a swarm of background dancers and band members spread throughout the stage, along with videotaped images of herself dancing. And the crowd got bigger when she was joined by her Destiny's Child band mates.
Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams popped up from below the stage to sing "Bootylicious." They were in similar outfits, singing and dancing closely as they harmonized. But Rowland and Williams were barely heard when the group sang "Independent Woman," as their voices faded into the background.
Friday, February 1, 2013
Xu wei found his goal
In his diary, he wrote, 'Life is like a tree'. He loved life, loved people around him," he says.
When you listened to 70-year-old Paul McCartney singing Hey Jude at the Opening Ceremony of London Olympic Games, you felt love, didn't you?"
Recently, Xu also signed a contract with Beijing Gehua Live Nation Co, a leading live-performance organizer, which has brought international artists like Bob Dylan and Irish rock band The Cranberries to China.
Xu will kick off his national tour in May, which he calls the biggest in his career.
"As I am getting older and older, the world becomes bigger and bigger to me. I am still learning," he says. "I want to sing for people who share their lives, their youth with me, through my songs."
When you listened to 70-year-old Paul McCartney singing Hey Jude at the Opening Ceremony of London Olympic Games, you felt love, didn't you?"
Recently, Xu also signed a contract with Beijing Gehua Live Nation Co, a leading live-performance organizer, which has brought international artists like Bob Dylan and Irish rock band The Cranberries to China.
Xu will kick off his national tour in May, which he calls the biggest in his career.
"As I am getting older and older, the world becomes bigger and bigger to me. I am still learning," he says. "I want to sing for people who share their lives, their youth with me, through my songs."
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