Quantcast
Channel: Business Insider
Viewing all 101983 articles
Browse latest View live

Terrence Howard Says He Wasn't In The 'Iron Man' Sequel Because Robert Downey Jr. Took His Paycheck

0
0

terrence howard bravo

When watching "Iron Man 2," one of the biggest mysteries was why Terrence Howard didn't reprise his role James Rhodes (aka War Machine).

There have been rumors about changes in paychecks and Howard's demeanor on set; however, the actor himself set the record straight on TV.

While appearing on Andy Cohen on Bravo's "Watch What Happens Live," Howard gave the low down on what really happened after a fan called in asking just that.

Though he said it would get him in a lot of trouble, Howard suggested he lost his paycheck to Iron Man's leading man, Robert Downey Jr.

"It turns out that the person I helped become Iron Man … when it was time to re-up for the second one took the money that was supposed to go to me and pushed me out."

Howard continued, telling Cohen that he had a three-picture deal for the film and that he ended up being offered a minuscule amount for the sequel in comparison to the first film. 

"It was going to be a certain amount for the first film, a certain amount for the second, a certain amount for the third," said Howard. "They came to me with the second and said, 'Look we will pay you 1/8th of what we contractually had for you because we think the second one will be successful with or without you.'"

Howard added:

"I called my friend that I helped get the first job and he didn't call me back for three months."

Watch the clip below:

Howard previously told morning radio show "Sway in the Morning" in a radio interview this spring a similar story saying he was offered about $1 million for the second film:

"[I was paid] about $4.5 million [for the first film],” said Howard. “The second time, [the studio] said ‘We think the movie will be successful with or without you. So, instead of the $8 million that we said we were gonna pay you, we’re going to let you come back for a million dollars.’ We did a three-picture deal already, [but] I forgot, I didn’t know it wasn’t a mutually binding contract; it was only beneficial for them and they could bring me back or not. They can honor it or not.” 

After the first film came out in 2008, Entertainment Weekly ran a story reporting that Howard was not only the first actor signed on for the film, but also the highest paid

When time came around for a sequel, EW says that any future story lines with Howard were being shortened after not being happy with his performance in the film. As a result, he was offered a 50-80 percent pay cut from the first film.

Robert Downey Jr. admitted to GQ this spring he received a big $50 million for playing Iron Man in "The Avengers" last summer.

Howard told "Sway" he now makes about $60,000 per film.

SEE ALSO: Mark Wahlberg Gave Up Half His 'Lone Survivor' Paycheck To Ensure Ben Foster Was In The Film

Join the conversation about this story »


    







San Francisco Turns Into Gotham To Make A 5-Year-Old's Dream Come True And It's The Most Heartwarming Thing You'll See All Year

0
0

batkid batman

This is awesome. 

Last week, we wrote about the Make-A-Wish foundation giving five-year-old Miles, who is battling Leukemia, the chance to fight crime as his favorite superhero. Today, Nov. 15, San Francisco was transformed into Batman's hometown of Gotham where Miles has been taking down some of the Bat's biggest foes as Batkid along with a grownup Dark Knight.

While ABC has been streaming live video HERE, the Bay area Make-A-Wish has been tweeting photos of Miles' day.

We'll be adding photos of his day below. Check him out in action.

Here's the sweet car he drove in with the classic Bat symbol.

batmobile batkid

Look at him go around town!

Batmobile batkid san fran

There's Miles!

car miles batkid

Someone in trouble?

riddler hostages

No need to fear, Batkid is here:

batkid san francisco

He'll save you.

batkid saves woman

batkid hug

A big crowd came to cheer him on. No time for pictures, though.

batman batkid

More crime ahead from The Riddler.

riddler batkid

Obviously, no match for Batkid.

batkid gets riddler

batkid gets the riddler

riddler batkid san fran

Time for a break from fighting crime.batkid eats lunch

No sooner than lunch is done, the Penguin is on the attack, kidnapping the San Francisco Giants mascot.

batkid penguin

Batkid tracked him down to AT&T Parkbatkid attt stadium

penguin batkid

And set him free.

batkid stadium

Quick photo op.batkid att&t stadium

Next stop: City Hall. Here he is receiving the key to the city!

miles batkid cityhallYou rock, Batkid.

batkid city hall

Check out the crowd who came to see him. 

batkid crowd

Everyone loves Batkid.

batkid miles san francisco

batkid hero miles

batkid san francisco

You can donate to the Make-A-Wish foundation here.

SEE ALSO: The Justice Department released an amazing indictment in honor of Batkid

AND: Even Obama is a fan of Batkid

Join the conversation about this story »


    






Anderson Cooper Blasts Alec Baldwin After Actor Admits He Called Paparazzo Gay Slur

0
0

Alec Baldwin shouted a gay slur at a cameraman yesterday following a courtroom victory in his stalker case.

In a TMZ video, Baldwin is heard yelling: "that one is a "c---sucking fag," but later took to Twitter to vehemently deny that he used the homophobic phrase, instead claiming he said he had actually use the term "fathead." 

Today, Baldwin finally admitted his faux pas:

But the MSNBC show host's 10pm competition, Anderson Cooper, is still not amused.

As Cooper notes, this isn't Baldwin's first homophobic outburst.

In June, he erupted at Daily Mail reporter George Stark and called him a "toxic little queen" after his wife was accused of tweeting upbeat messages at James Gandolfini's funeral. 

In a statement Thursday, GLAAD called on Baldwin to "end this pattern of anti-gay slurs."

"Mr. Baldwin can’t lend his support for equality on paper, while degrading gay people in practice," the organization said. 

Baldwin began hosting "Up Late With Alec Baldwin" on MSNBC in October

SEE ALSO: Alec Baldwin Flipped Out And Allegedly Shouted A Gay Slur At A Cameraman — And Then Denied He Said It

MORE: Actress Found Guilty Of Stalking Alec Baldwin, Sentenced To Jail

Join the conversation about this story »


    






The Internet Is Fuming After Miranda Kerr Posts Photoshopped Picture On Instagram

0
0

After last year's Victoria's Secret fashion show, model Miranda Kerr posted this photo — standing between Doutzen Kroes and Alessandra Ambrosio — just a year after giving birth to her son.

The photo, captioned "Good times #vsfashionshow" received a hefty 61.3k likes.

Miranda Kerr photoshop before

But followers noticed something was off when Kerr posted the exact same image three days ago, a year after it was first taken — except this time with a notably slimmer waist. 

Kerr, who was reportedly asked to walk in this year's show but decided to focus on business in Japan instead, posted the below: "Sending love and best wishes to the #vsangels from Japan xxx ❤"

Miranda Kerr photoshop after

Notice the difference in her already slim waist?

Commenters are having a field day with the before and after photos, alleging the 30-year-old model photoshopped the image herself. 

Designer Ange Langton shared her view of the image directly on Kerr's Instgram: "@mirandakerr maybe address this image? It's been photoshopped very obviously and it might be a good idea to communicate to your fans why it has happened."

The Fashion Spot commenter Greenlandgem even claims that Kerr has done it before: “I can't believe no one else has commented on this yet! I noticed starting a while ago that her Instagram photos have been Photoshopped to narrow her waist — as if she needed it anyway. It's bizarre and totally unnecessary. So disappointing!”

Here's what some others had to say:

miranda kerr commentsmiranda kerr comments

Few others came to the model's defense:

Miranda Kerr photoshop

SEE ALSO: The 15 Worst Celebrity Magazine Photoshop Fails

MORE: TOO HOT FOR VICTORIA'S SECRET: The Miranda Kerr Story

Join the conversation about this story »


    






Obama Releases A Heartwarming Vine Congratulating Batkid On Saving Gotham

0
0

America has been touched and captivated by the story of "Batkid" — 5-year-old named Miles who is battling Leukemia and has been fighting crime in a transformed San Francisco, thanks to the Make-A-Wish foundation. 

His story has reached all the way up to President Barack Obama. The White House released a short Vine message from Obama late Friday afternoon.

"Way to go, Miles! Way to save Gotham!" Obama says:

Join the conversation about this story »


    






'Gravity'-Inspired Movie Trailer Shows Everyone's Nightmare Of Getting Trapped In IKEA

0
0

Making a trip to IKEA can be a real nightmare — the furniture giant is known for massive stores with layouts that are meant to disorient customers and trap them inside for longer than they planned to be there.

This fake movie trailer posted on YouTube earlier this week is a play on the popular movie "Gravity," but as Jezebel points out, it's "several times more terrifying" than the real thing.

The trailer makes getting trapped in an IKEA seem pretty similar to being lost in outer space: "At over 364,000 square feet, there is no sense of direction, no silence, bad cell service ... Life in IKEA is impossible."

With 332 stores in 38 countries, hundreds of millions of people experience this kind of terror every year.

SEE ALSO: 13 facts about IKEA that will blow your mind

Join the conversation about this story »


    






MSNBC Temporarily Pulls Alec Baldwin's Show Following His Anti-Gay Freakout

0
0

Alec Baldwin

Alec Baldwin flipped out at a cameraman yesterday, and the fallout from his anti-gay remark continues — with the actor and television host releasing a full statement of apology and MSNBC taking his show off the schedule temporarily.

In a TMZ video posted Thursday, Baldwin shouted at a cameraman: "that one is a 'c---sucking fag,' but then later vehemently denied the anti-gay remark on Twitter, claiming he said he had actually used the term "fathead." 

After plenty of backlash, he finally apologized on Twitter, and has asked his loyal fans to "accept his apology."

Here's his statement, posted to the MSNBC website:

I did not intend to hurt or offend anyone with my choice of words, but clearly I have – and for that I am deeply sorry. Words are important. I understand that, and will choose mine with great care going forward. What I said and did this week, as I was trying to protect my family, was offensive and unacceptable. Behavior like this undermines hard-fought rights that I vigorously support. I understand “Up Late” will be taken off the schedule for tonight and next week.

I want to apologize to my loyal fans and to my colleagues at msnbc – both for my actions and for distracting from their good work. Again, please accept my apology.

It's not the first time Baldwin has been under fire for homophobic rants. In June, he blew up at Daily Mail reporter George Stark and called him a "toxic little queen" after his wife was accused of tweeting upbeat messages at James Gandolfini's funeral. He later wrote to the LGBT rights group GLAAD and apologized.

This time, GLAAD has called for him to "end this pattern of anti-gay slurs."

Baldwin's show "Up Late" — which he began hosting in October— usually airs Friday nights at 10 p.m. eastern.

Join the conversation about this story »


    






Lady Gaga Unveils New Meat Accessory In Promos For Tonight's "SNL"

0
0

Lady Gaga will act as both host and musical performer on tonight's "Saturday Night Live." 

In promos for the show alongside "SNL" cast member Kenan Thompson, Gaga debuts a new meat accessory, a theatrical accent, and even fakes sick. Watch below:

Gaga is clearly excited about the gig:

SEE ALSO: Kerry Washington Mocks SNL's Lack Of Black Cast Members In Show's Cold Open

Join the conversation about this story »


    







Here's How To Delete Video And Screenshots Taken On The PlayStation 4

0
0

One of the coolest things about the PlayStation 4 is the ease with which you can capture and share photos and videos.

You can simply hit the share key on the DualShock 4 controller and it will take a screen capture of whatever you're looking at inside a game or on the homescreen. If you're playing a game, it will record up to 15 minutes of gameplay.

ps4_controllerFrom there, you can share that content directly to Facebook or Twitter (once you connect your respective accounts). You can also stream your gameplay on Twitch and Ustream.

While that's great, one issue we were having was finding a delete button for all this data we've acquired. While we love taking video and screenshots, all of this data can add up in your storage. The PS4 console comes with 500 gb; however, after hardware and the operating system is taken in for account, you're down to 409 gb on the hardrive.

When you go to share your data, you're brought to this screen:

share content ps4

Let's take a look at our screenshots.screen captures ps4

Here is everything we've captured from the homescreen and elsewhere on the PlayStation user interface (UI). Hitting the option key, we're giving three items to select from: Sort by, preview, and selection.

screencapture ps4

So how do you delete?

This may be intuitive to some, but in case it's not, here's where to go.

Starting at the PlayStation homescreen hit the "up" key on the directional pad.

ps4 homescreen

Head over to settings.settings ps4

From there, scroll down to "System Storage Management."settings system storage management

You're brought to a screen which shows you how much system storage you currently have. Looks like we're already down to 324 gbs.

storage ps4

Head into captures. Here you can see all of the video and screenshots you've taken sorted by game. We've already mentioned that Other contains images from the UI. captures ps4

We're looking at the images from The Playroom, the game that comes standard with every PS4 to check out the abilities of the PlayStation camera (if you bought one in addition to the console) and the DualShock 4 controller.

As you can see, this looks very similar to the screen from the Share option we looked at earlier. The icons on the right tell us which user captured the screenshot or video. We currently have two users on the PS4 — myself being the rounded square.

playroom captures ps4

The only difference is this time when hitting the Options button, instead of three options, there are four.

(You'll notice we went down to our video clips since they're taking up more space on the console.)delete video ps4

Seven screens deep, there's the delete button! 

delete button screenshots ps4

Again, here's what the other screen looked like on the "share" feature.screen capture ps4 share

So, now that we've found the delete key, let's get to it. The good thing here is that we're able to delete as many videos or screenshots as we want to at once.

Once we have everything selected, let's hit delete.delete video from PS4

Are we sure we want to delete? ... Definitely.delete screencapture ps4

And that's it!

Though we found the delete button, this was a slightly laborious feature to find in the PS4's system storage management. If you're not familiar with the PlayStation interface or are new to the gaming world, this will probably won't be somewhere you think to look.  

When we're used to the instantaneous ability to view, send, and delete photos and video on other electronics (cameras, tablets, phones, etc.) it's a bit of a hassle that we have to head all the way over to storage management in order to delete and manage your files. It seems like it would be easy enough to include a delete option from the sharing screens.

Update: An alternate way to delete video and screenshots is by viewing your profile. Underneath your Avatar are three selections to edit your profile, head to privacy settings, or view "captures."

Head there to view all screenshots and video taken. Hit the Option button on the DualShock 4 and you're given the option to delete any and all recordings.

SEE ALSO: Our first impressions of the PS4

More PS4: The one word everyone is using to describe Sony's next-gen console

Join the conversation about this story »


    






REVIEW: JJ Abrams' New Futuristic Cop Show 'Almost Human' Deserves A Watch

0
0

almost human j.j. jj abrams fox

Warning: Spoilers below!

J.J. Abrams certainly has his hands full these days. Between directing "Star Wars: Episode VII" and producing "Mission: Impossible 5," he's slated to own the 2015 holiday box office.

But there's a surprising sci-fi series, produced by Abrams, that is flying under the radar right now. "Almost Human" premieres Sunday, Nov. 17 at 8 p.m. ET on Fox.

The futuristic buddy-cop dramedy does not disappoint — in terms of "lens flares," the cinematic technique of flashing blinding lights. (It's Abrams' thing. There are a lot of them.)

Created by "Fringe" show runner Joel Wyman, "Almost Human" is set in the year 2048, a time in which the crime rate has risen so drastically that police officers are paired with combat-model androids to help protect Los Angeles.

Karl Urban, best known as Leonard "Bones" McCoy in Abrams' "Star Trek" reboot, employs his gravelly voice and eternally pissed off expression in the role of Detective John Kennex. The former LAPD hotshot returns to the force after an earlier attack by an anonymous group placed him in a coma. He suffers from PTSD, memory loss, rejection of his prosthetic (his leg was amputated in the explosion), and a laundry list of other instabilities.

Kennex especially hates the idea of working alongside androids, which he calls "synthetics," a derogatory moniker. These machines look human but are distinguished by their monotone voices, strictly rule-based sense of reason, and skin that looks like sheets of bubble gum pulled taut.

fox almost humanHis first "RoboCop" partner is a deadweight, and in a moment of frustration, Kennex shoves him out the car door and onto the freeway. Then he meets the partner that will stick. The latest android model is essentially on back order, so they dust off Dorian — an earlier generation model who looks, speaks, and has feelings like a human. His model was decommissioned when their incredible likeness to people — particularly their emotional responses — began to interfere with their purpose.

Dorian, played by Michael Ealy ("Think Like a Man," "Common Law"), radiates warmth on screen. Until he's activated 20 minutes into the episode, the show is a jumbled sequence of flashbacks to the attack and scenes showing Kennex wallowing in isolation. Dorian's efforts to engage in colloquial conversations elicit the most laughter from the audience, and his readiness to take a hit in the field and insistence on interrogating without torture earn our loyalty. He particularly tugs at the heartstrings when he informs Kennex, "I can't say that I was born or grew in a womb or had a childhood, but I was made to feel. And I do."

The show's special effects are solid, given it has the production budget of a TV show rather than a sci-fi franchise. The police's floating digital screens, powered by hologram-like devices, are stunning. And when the camera took the perspective of an android, the viewer gets a glimpse at how they gather information and digitally project it into their line of vision.

fox almost humanHowever, the pilot falls short in establishing a grand-scale, "LOST"-like mystery that excites the viewer. We're supposed to care about the origin of the attack that emotionally and physically wounded Kennex, but we don't know enough to be invested.

Urban's Kennex was too cold to garner empathy, and it's impossible to swallow his cheesy threats in such an "I mean business" voice. He weighs down any sense of heart — a trademark of Wyman and Abrams' cult favorite, "Fringe."

When "Almost Human" previewed at New York City Comic Con last month, the audience's reactions varied on Twitter. Particularly in regard to Kennex's robotic performance:

Minka Kelly also stars, although her brilliant detective sidekick character was hugely underdeveloped. She fangirls all over Kennex upon his return, and her watchful glances hint at a future love connection.

Overall, it's safe to say Ealy's performance as one of the most charming robots since C-3PO is worth tuning in for, for at least a second episode. 

Watch the trailer below:

SEE ALSO: The Only 13 New TV Shows Worth Watching This Fall

Join the conversation about this story »


    






The Alternate Ending To 'Breaking Bad' Is A Genius Tie-In To 'Malcolm In The Middle'

0
0

walter white breaking bad pilot

Just ahead of the release of the box set of the complete series of "Breaking Bad," a clip rumored to be an alternate ending to the series has surfaced on Youtube.

It shows Walter White demanding he be addressed as "Heisenberg," then he suddenly wakes up from a nightmare — filled with weird stories of dealing meth, having a shaved head, and killing people.

"Oh, I knew this was going to happen," his wife chides him. "You grow a beard and all of a sudden you think you're Osama bin Laden."

The clip seems to be a joke ending to the show. The actress playing his wife, Jane Kaczmarek, is from Bryan Cranston's other series — "Malcolm in the Middle."

Before "Breaking Bad" ended, some thought it would be great if the ending showed White going into witness protection and later ending up on "Malcolm in the Middle."

As commenter yyZiggurat points out on Reddit, the ending appears to be pretty close to the season finale of Bob Newhart's sitcom "Newhart," which ended in 1990.

Andrew Sims, editor-in-chief at Hypable writes:

Hypable is confident this is the official Breaking Bad “alternate ending” coming on the complete box set for one reason: Malcom in the Middle’s Jane Kaczmarek was on the set of the meth drama this past January to shoot a scene for the DVD/Blu-ray box set. No further details had come to light until now.

Now watch the clip:

If you want to see what the actual ending was, you can check it out here.

DON'T MISS: The 30 Most Jaw-Droppingly Shocking Moments From Every Season Of 'Breaking Bad'

Join the conversation about this story »


    






Toronto 'Crack Mayor' Rob Ford Gives Inappropriate Press Conferences In 'SNL' Open

0
0

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford was the subject of this weekend's "Saturday Night Live" cold open, perfectly played by Bobby Moynihan.

After admitting "I goofed up, eh" on a local Canadian news show, the "mayor" goes on to drink beer, tell reporters to kiss his a--, and buy crack during a press conference.

"I should stop doing press conferences," he ultimately jokes.

There's even a "60 Minutes" Benghazi jab at the end of the skit, in which a Lara Logan impersonator believes the mayor when he says he's never smoked crack, done drugs, or drank alcohol.

Watch the funny segment below:

SEE ALSO: Lady Gaga Sings About Ways To Get 'Cheap Applause' In SNL Monologue

Join the conversation about this story »


    






Lady Gaga Sings About Ways To Get 'Cheap Applause' In SNL Monologue

0
0

Lady Gaga opened "Saturday Night Live" by saying it has been her life long dream to host the show.

The "Applause" singer, who was both host and musical performer on Saturday, then went on to explain "There are two kinds of applause: the kind you earn or cheap applause, which you get by pandering to the audience."

Gaga then immediately busted into a Broadway-type number explaining the various ways she gets cheap applause.

A few suggestions Gaga says always get people clap:

  • "Can I hear it for the ladies?"
  • "Make some noise if you're from out of town."
  • "Put your hands together if you want to end childhood obesity."
  • "Do you guys want me to come out there and say hello?"
  • "Give it up for teachers!"
  • "Give it up for first responders!"
  • "Give it up for two people working out their differences!"
  • "Live from New York it's Saturday night! I know somebody already said that but it always gets your applause."

Watch the fun opening skit below:


SEE ALSO: Toronto 'Crack Mayor' Rob Ford Gives Inappropriate Press Conferences In 'SNL' Open

Join the conversation about this story »


    






'Condoms In Porn' Law Is Making Los Angeles Lose A Ton Of Money

0
0

Kayden Kross porn actressLOS ANGELES (AP) — The number of permits pulled to make porn films in Los Angeles County has declined an estimated 95 percent — from about 480 issued in 2012 to only 24 through the first nine months of this year — since a law requiring adult film actors to use condoms took effect, officials said Friday.

Film LA, a private nonprofit that issues permits for filming in Los Angeles County, cautioned that its 2012 figures were just an estimate because it did not specifically track porn films until the condom requirement took effect in March 2012.

Now that it does, the organization said only 24 permits were issued this year as of mid-September.

The adult film industry trade group, the Free Speech Coalition, said those numbers show the law adopted by voters is costing the county hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The group's executive director, Diane Duke, said a typical porn film permit costs about $1,000, meaning the county lost about $456,000.

"And if you think about the associated vendors and jobs that have gone elsewhere, I think that speaks volumes about what this is costing," she said.

Duke said some filmmakers went to neighboring counties, while others headed out of state.

Some smaller producers could also be forgoing permits to keep from drawing attention to themselves.

Larger filmmakers who make their movies on closed sets and not in private residences are exempt from the measure.

The law, championed by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, was adopted by voters and took effect early last year. However, it wasn't enforced until the end of the year, and foundation officials have complained since then that county officials are making little effort to really carry it out.

The porn industry, meanwhile, is suing to overturn it.

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation says the condom requirement is needed to protect adult film actors and the public from sexually transmitted diseases.

The industry voluntarily shut down production twice this year after actors tested positive for HIV. It resumed after it was determined the infections did not occur during the making of a film.

The industry, which had required that actors be tested for sexually transmitted disease every 28 days, changed that requirement to every 14 days after the second outbreak.

Join the conversation about this story »


    






Scarlett Johansson Wins Best Actress Prize In Rome Without Appearing In Film

0
0

Cast members Joaquin Phoenix (L) and Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett Johansson awarded Best Actress prize for role in 'Her' by Rome film festival despite not actually appearing in it

Rome's fledgling film festival has come under fire for awarding a prize to Scarlett Johansson for a film she provides a voice-over for, but does not appear in.

The jury handed the 28-year-old a best actress award for providing the voice for an intuitive computer program in the Spike Jonze film 'Her', which is set in the near future and stars Joaquin Phoenix as a man undergoing a difficult divorce who falls in love with the program.

Although it cannot be argued that Johannson possesses a sultry voice, one of Italy's foremost film critics has claimed that the prize pointed to "collective madness against the cinema" among jurors.

In a front-page article in Italian daily Corriere della Sera, Paolo Mereghetti wrote: "For the first time a festival has given a prize to an actress who has only lent her voice to a film."

Numerous Italian critics also pointed out that the Johannson's award winning voice-over will never be heard by Italian cinema goers because the film will be dubbed into Italian on its release.

Johannson did not attend the prize giving, but sent a message in which she said it was "appropriate" that the jury did not get to give her the award in person. "I thank the jury above all for their ears," she said.

Mr Mereghetti, who publishes a well known Italian film dictionary, also took issue with the decision to hand the best film award to 'Tir', a pretend documentary by Italian Alberto Fasulo about the life on the road of a Croatian lorry driver, which follows the awarding of the best film prize at the Venice film festival in September to 'Sacro GRA', an Italian documentary about a ring road around Rome.

Giving awards to Tir and to Johannson, amounted to a "surprising prize giving that risks turning into an own goal" for the festival, he argued.

Despite the criticism, the Rome jurors may have set a precedent in Johannson's case. Last month, the producer of Her, Megan Ellison, said she would campaign for Johansson to be given an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress.

The Rome film festival, which has been going for eight years, has struggled in a packed autumn calendar of rival festivals including Turin and Toronto, but organisers said that this year ticket sales to the public were up 20 per cent to 60,000 tickets.

Join the conversation about this story »


    







Kanye West And Kim Kardashian Slam Apple 'Genius' In 'SNL' Skit

0
0

Kanye West Kim Kardashian Lady Gaga SNL“Saturday Night Live” mocked Kim Kardashian and Kanye West with a sketch about the couple having a morning show called “Waking Up With Kimye.”

In the skit, West explains how he turned a whiny Kardashian into “an artist," “philosopher,” and fashion icon.

But the real fun begins when host Lady Gaga appears as the first guest on “Waking Up With Kimye" as an Apple store “Genius Bar” employee, who West says doesn’t deserve to be called a “genius” — like him and Kim.

The exchange, mocking West's love of publicly calling himself a genius, goes like this:

Kanye: "Karen, tell people what you do at the Apple store."

Apple employee: "I help customers fix problems with their Apple computers."

Kanye: "Huh? And that somehow makes you deserving of the title 'Genius'?"

Apple employee: "Well I work at the Genius Bar, so it's just a term Apple came up with."

With that, West freaks out, yelling: "You do not deserve the title of genius! You cant just throw that term around! Mark Zuckerberg is a genius. I am a genius, I am a god. Kim is a genius!"

Then West makes the Apple employee have a fashion face off in a segment called "Kim Wore It Better." You can guess who won.

Watch the funny sketch below: 

SEE ALSO: Toronto 'Crack Mayor' Rob Ford Gives Inappropriate Press Conferences In 'SNL' Open

MORE: Lady Gaga Sings About Ways To Get 'Cheap Applause' In SNL Monologue

Join the conversation about this story »


    






Sony Sells More Than 1 Million PlayStation 4 Consoles In First Day

0
0

purchasing ps4 playstation 4 console

Sony sells more than 1M PlayStation 4 video game consoles in first 24 hours on the market

NEW YORK (AP) — Sony says it sold more than 1 million of its PlayStation 4 video game consoles during their first 24 hours on the market.

The consoles went on sale Friday in the U.S. and Canada. Andrew House, president and group CEO for Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., said in a release Sunday that sales remain strong in North America. The company will launch the gaming system in Europe and Latin America on Nov. 29.

Sony has said it expects to sell 5 million units by the end of its fiscal year in March.

The PlayStation 4 is Sony's first new video game console in seven years. It faces competition from Microsoft Corp.'s new Xbox One, which goes on sale this week.

But unlike seven years ago, video game systems are also now competing against tablets, smartphones and other gadgets for the attention of gamers.

SEE ALSO: Here's the one word everyone is using to describe the PS4

Join the conversation about this story »


    






Now Is the Worst Time To Buy A PS4 Or Xbox One

0
0

playstation 4 ps4 controller

The next two weeks are what equates to the Super Bowl in the video game industry.

Both Sony and Microsoft have brand new video game consoles launching this fall, the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. People are lining up for the new PS4, which launches November 15. Microsoft has a bunch of sharks guarding the first Xbox One to be sold on November 22. Glitzy commercials are running during Sunday football games. Fanboys are arguing over which console is better.

Don't buy either of them.

For those who have been following the video game industry for the last few generations of console launches, this will sound like a familiar story. But I'll tell it anyway.

Every time a new video game console comes out, it launches with a handful of games designed to take advantage of the device's whiz-bang features like improved graphics. With very few exceptions (see: "Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess" for the original Nintendo Wii in 2006 and "Super Mario 64" for the Nintendo 64 in 1996), those launch titles have been pretty bad. And so far it sounds like history is repeating itself with the newest generation of consoles.

The first round of reviews for the PlayStation 4 are out. The consensus? It's a great console, but the games aren't that great. And since the PS4 can't play your older PS3 or PS2 games, you're going to be stuck with a console that can only run games you probably don't want to play anyway.

The Xbox One reviews aren't out yet, but I guarantee the story will be the same once they do. Great hardware. Interesting new features. Bad games. Wait a few years for developers to make some blockbuster titles before you buy.

Plus, some of the new games launching on the PS4 and Xbox One, including guaranteed mega-hits like "Call of Duty: Ghosts," will be available on the current generation of consoles like the Xbox 360 and PS3, giving you even less of reason to spend $400 or $500 on one of the new consoles.

Before all the PlayStation and Xbox fans pounce on me, I'm not saying the new consoles are bad devices. If you're serious about gaming and want to be on the cutting edge, stop reading now and go stand in line for your new console.

But for most people, buying either the PS4 or Xbox One this year would be like buying a car without any gas. What good is a video game console if it doesn't have any games you want to play? In the meantime, developers will make new titles for the PS3 and Xbox 360 since each of those consoles will continue to have tens of millions of players who haven't upgraded yet. You won't be missing out.

And finally, there's pricing. With video game console sales declining year over year, I wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft, Sony, or both decided to drop the price of their new systems next year. Critics have already blasted Microsoft for pricing the Xbox One $100 more than the PS4, and unless Microsoft sells a more-than-significant amount of new Xboxes over the next several months, don't be shocked if the price comes down a bit by Christmas 2014. 

Join the conversation about this story »


    






A Black Romantic Comedy Nearly Beat Out 'Thor 2' At The Box Office This Weekend

0
0

the best man holiday

Nobody saw this coming.

"Thor: The Dark World" may have commanded the box office for a second week in a row; however, it came really close to being knocked from the top spot by a film no one expected to perform so well.

"The Best Man Holiday" surprised everyone making a huge $30 million opening weekend. Friday, it actually made more money than the "Thor" sequel.

"Thor: The Dark World" ended the weekend with $38.5 million.

The romantic comedy following a group of friends reuniting after a number of years has a lot of star power from Taye Diggs ("Private Practice"), Regina Hall, Morris Chestnut, and Terrence Howard, but was predicted to make $20 million at the most upon debut.

The Malcolm D. Lee directed film cost an estimated $17 million to produce.

One factor that could have played into the film performing better than expected is that the movie is a sequel. 14 years after the original, "The Best Man," many of the stars including Diggs, Howard, Chestnut, all reprise the roles that helped launch many of their careers. 

That film made a total of $34 million worldwide,

Earlier this week, Howard appeared on Bravo's "Watch What Happens" with Andy Cohen revealing why he didn't appear in the second installment of "Iron Man." The actor claimed the film's star Robert Downey Jr. pushed him out of the film, taking his paycheck. The media attention of the story could have helped boost interest in the film.

It goes without saying that "Thor 2" vs. "The Best Man Holiday" was the unlikeliest of box-office showdowns. Originally, Martin Scorsese's "The Wolf of Wall Street" was expected to release this weekend. That film has been pushed back now until December 25.

SEE ALSO: Here's what the end-credits scenes in "Thor: The Dark World" mean

Join the conversation about this story »


    






R.Kelly Made An Incredibly Bizarre Appearance During Lady Gaga's 'SNL' Performance

0
0

Lady Gaga acted as both host and musical guest on this weekend's "Saturday Night Live."

But one of the singer's most bizarre moments came during her performance of "Do What U Want" featuring R.Kelly.

The performance incorporated a bunch of unexplainable dance moves, not meant to be funny. Watch the weirdness below:

Check out some of the duo's killer moves:

Lady Gaga R Kelly SNL

Lady Gaga R Kelly SNL

Lady Gaga R Kelly SNL

Lady Gaga R Kelly SNL

Lady Gaga R Kelly SNL

Lady Gaga R Kelly SNL

Lady Gaga R Kelly SNL 
Oh yeah, Gaga also performed "Gypsy":



SEE ALSO: Lady Gaga Sings About Ways To Get 'Cheap Applause' In SNL Monologue

MORE: Kanye West And Kim Kardashian Slam Apple 'Genius' In 'SNL' Skit

MORE: Toronto 'Crack Mayor' Rob Ford Gives Inappropriate Press Conferences In 'SNL' Open

Join the conversation about this story »


    






Viewing all 101983 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images