Bob Dylan has been formally charged with "inciting hate," AFP reports.

On Friday, we reported Dylan had been sued by a Croatian community association in France over comments he made in his September cover interview with Rolling Stone and which subsequently appeared in the magazine's French edition. Speaking about race relations in the U.S., he said:

"This country is just too f***** up about color. It's a distraction. People at each other's throats just because they are of a different color. It's the height of insanity, and it will hold any nation back – or any neighborhood back. Or any anything back. Blacks know that some whites didn't want to give up slavery – that if they had their way, they would still be under the yoke, and they can't pretend they don't know that. If you got a slave master or Klan in your blood, blacks can sense that. That stuff lingers to this day. Just like Jews can sense Nazi blood and the Serbs can sense Croatian blood."

Now, AFP says he was actually questioned a few weeks ago in the case by a French prosecutor, around the same he was receiving a French Legion of Honor medal for serving as a symbol of justice for young people. 

Dylan was charged under France's statutes regarding "injury" and "inciting hate." 

If found guilty, he would face a fine and probation.

In other news, Croatians have just voted to ban gay marriage.

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With the launch of the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One November, the next generation of console gaming has officially begun.

What gets left out of many articles, blog posts, and slideshows talking up the new consoles is that there's already been a next-gen console on the market for a year: the Wii U, Nintendo's follow-up to smash-hit Wii, was released November 2012.

While the new consoles from Sony and Microsoft promise beautiful graphics and a plethora of integrated online services, they're expensive — $399 and $499, respectively — and most of the games that have people excited for them don't come out until Spring 2014 at the earliest.

For the avid gamer who likes a bargain, the Wii U is the best system you can buy this holiday season for a combination of great games, cool hardware, and fantastic pricing.

The Wii U has great games available now

When the Wii U first came out, its library of games was as anemic as those on the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One — maybe even more so.

A year later, the situation has pulled a complete 180: some of the best games Nintendo has ever made are on the Wii U. In a smart move, the company even throws one of them in with the console.

Since September, Nintendo has offered a $299 bundle that includes a digital copy (you have to download it) of 2003's "The Legend Of Zelda: Wind Waker" remade with the high-resolution textures and beautiful lighting from today's games, new controls that take advantage of the Wii U's GamePad, and a few changes to the gameplay that eliminate the biggest complaints people had against the original release.

I've played through about a third of the game since picking up the Wii U, but I'll be honest: if I didn't have to look at the other titles in this piece, I could have easily spent the last few days putting all of my time into exploring the beautiful world in "Wind Waker." 

Of course, one game thrown in with a console doesn't make it worth it for everybody. That's where the Wii U's year lead comes in.

Since the Wii U's launch, a number of fantastic titles have joined the system's growing catalog, from the real-time strategy "Pikmin 3" to the side-scrolling platformer "New Super Mario Bros. U."

Just this month, Nintendo launched the latest in its series of 3D Mario platformers, "Super Mario 3D World." Combining elements of previous console titles like "Super Mario Galaxy" and the 3DS's "Super Mario 3D Land," "3D World" is probably the best platformer Nintendo has ever made.

I know that sounds hyperbolic, but I'm not the only one saying it: if you look at our round up of reviews for the game, other critics claim that it approaches "perfection" and marvel at Nintendo's technical prowess.

What's truly amazing about the game is the wide audience that it appeals to: kids will love it because of the marvelous graphics and cute humor, parents will like it because it doesn't have the violence and language prevalent in many popular games today, and hardcore gamers will love it because fully beating the game requires a ton of skill and dedication.

For those who want a bit more action in their gaming diet, there's "The Wonderful 101," a ridiculously stylish title that puts the player in control of a team of superheroes that can transform into giant weapons based on the shapes the player draws on the GamePad's touchscreen:

If a year's lead on exclusives wasn't enough, the Wii U sports backwards compatibility with the Wii (unlike the PS4 or Xbox One, which can't play games released on last-gen consoles), meaning you can swap out the Wii for the Wii U in your living room and still have access to all of your old games.

It also means that there's an entire generation's worth of games that you can pick up and play for super-low prices.

Fans of old-school gaming will also be happy to know that Nintendo's Virtual Console has many of the best games from the NES and Super Nintendo, with games from the N64 and Game Boy Advance coming soon.

For prices comparable to those on Apple's App Store, you can pick up classic titles like "Mega Man X," "Super Metroid," and "Earthbound" and play them on your television or directly on the GamePad's built-in screen.

There are a few glaring holes in the Wii U's game lineup, however. While many new AAA games from third-party developers are available on the system — including the latest "Call of Duty,""Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag," and "Batman: Arkham Origins"— you won't find the latest titles from EA Sports, DICE, or Bethesda on the Wii U.

As we reported back in August, that's because some developers simply don't want to put the extra effort into making a game for hardware that's not quite as slow as last-gen systems and not quite as fast as its current-gen competitors without the assurance that they'll have sales that make up for the effort.

For now, that's sure to be a deal-breaker for many hardcore gamers. But if the sales boost the console is getting from the flurry of titles released over the last few months (and from "Super Smash Bros." and "Mario Kart" next year) can lead to as big of a turn-around as Nintendo managed to pull off with the Nintendo 3DS, we could hear a change of tune from the developers who are still holding out on the console.

The GamePad is like a mix between a controller and a tablet

If there's one thing that immediately stands out about the Wii U, it's the controller that Nintendo bundles with every system.

Part game controller and part tablet, the GamePad does for the Wii U what the touchscreen does for the Nintendo DS and 3DS: it provides a convenient way to display information like the items you're carrying or where you're at in a game without having to pause the action by opening a menu.

It also serves as a miniature display for gaming when the main television is in use or otherwise unavailable — like when friends/family/roommates want to watch Netflix or sports.

While it's certainly no Retina display, the GamePad's resolution is high enough that you can still appreciate how pretty games look and read important in-game text. While the PlayStation 4 offers a similar Remote Play feature, one also needs to own a $199 PlayStation Vita in addition to the PS4 in order to use it.

In terms of actual size, the screen is somewhere between a large "phablet" like Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 and a 7-inch tablet. While that real estate was necessary to make it usable for playing games on, it does come with a bit of a drawback: the GamePad is massive. Everyone I showed it to thought that it was the console based on how big it is.

With that said, it's far less dense than you'd expect from looking at it. I had no problem holding it at length while playing games on the GamePad's display, and when you have the Wii U hooked up to a TV its weight becomes a non-issue because you can simply rest it on your lap as you play.

Navigating menus on a Nintendo console has never been smoother than on the Wii U. As on the original Wii and on the 3DS, apps and games are arranged in rows of icons above a clean, white background.

Thanks to the responsive touchscreen on the Wii U, moving between pages of apps is incredibly smooth, and the new operating system lets you quickly check your download progress or look something up online in seconds with a tap of the home button in the center of the GamePad.

If there's any real flaw with the GamePad, it's battery life. After two or three hours of gaming on its display, the low-battery LED began flashing wildly, demanding that I plug the GamePad into its charger, which unfortunately requires its own wall socket — there's no USB port on the GamePad for plugging it into the Wii U itself like you can with controllers on the PS3 or PS4.

For sneaky parents with younger children, this could be seen as a feature: just tell your kids that it has to be turned off and resting in the included charging dock for an easy way to impose a time limit on their gaming.

The console offers a lot of fun in an affordable package

When it comes down to it, most people have to look at price when making the decision to buy a gadget like a gaming console.

If you're looking for a good deal, the Wii U simply blows the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One out of the water.

For roughly $20 more than a PlayStation 4 and no games (with sales tax included), I was able to pick up a Wii U with three brand-new games containing dozens of hours of content to play through.

Then there's the Xbox One. Not only does it cost $200 more out of the gate, it also requires a $60/year subscription fee to play online, use Internet Explorer to browse the web, or to use entertainment apps like Netflix.

That's not the case on the Wii U: as long as you've got a working Netflix or Amazon Instant Video account, you can use those apps as soon as you've got the console set up and updated.

Of course, I'm sure this post is going to get a bunch of comments about how I was silly to pick up a Wii U because of how much more powerful the PS4 and Xbox One are, price be damned.

My only response to that is: "So what?"

This early in the console cycle, most developers simply haven't gotten comfortable enough with the new hardware to really take advantage of them. Games just aren't that much prettier on the latest consoles than they are the Wii U or even last-gen systems like the PS3 or Xbox 360 — yet.

In a few years, the PS4 and Xbox One will have games that make today's lineup look downright ugly. Instead of dropping the full price on a system for a few mediocre games that look incrementally better in anticipation of buying amazing titles in a couple of years, why not buy a console that actually has games worth buying now? 

By the time games that actually push those consoles hit the market, both the PS4 and the Xbox One will likely have at least one price drop each.

Since Wii U games are generally $10 less than their equivalents on other systems, you can enjoy just as many games in the interim period and still save up for buying whichever of the two other consoles happens to have your preferred exclusives — or more of your friends as owners — two or three years down the line.

While fanboys argue the merits of their favorite system and the undecided weigh the pros and cons of each option, I'll be here stomping on Koopas with Mario and the gang.

Questions about the Wii U or its games? Leave them in the comment section below and I'll address them to the best of my ability.

SEE ALSO: The Xbox One is an ambitious console that's far from perfect

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By now, many of the "Fast and Furious" cast and crew have expressed their condolences in light of Paul Walker's sudden death this past weekend.

Missing from those reactions was Walker's longtime co-star and friend Vin Diesel.

Diesel and Walker first worked together on the first "Fast and Furious" movie in 2001.

The actor finally broke his silence with two images on Facebook celebrating the life of his friend and co-star.

Diesel quoted Scottish poet Thomas Campbell: "To live in the hearts we leave behind, is not to die." 

He followed that up with a message to Walker:  

"Pablo, I wish you could see the world right now ... and the profound impact, your full life has had on it, on Us... on me...  

I will always love you Brian, as the brother you were... on and off screen." 

Brian O'Connor was the name of the police officer turned con-man Walker played in the "Fast and Furious" franchise.

Diesel also changed his Facebook cover image to one of him with the actor, celebrating his life.

Diesel also attended a memorial for Walker at the crash site where he passed away thanking fans for coming out. 

Watch video captured by NBC Los Angeles reporter Gadi Schwartz below:

SEE ALSO: How the rest of the cast and crew reacted

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Star Wars joined Instagram this week, and one of the first posts is a Darth Vader selfie.

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Macklemore first won our hearts with Thrift Shop but Can't Hold Us became the party anthem of 2013.

Spotify just released its Year In Review data and Macklemore and Ryan Lewis's debut album, The Heist, was the most streamed album in the world, with Can't Hold Us taking the cake as the top song of 2013.

Spotify's 24 million active users streamed over 4.5 billion hours of music this year. That's almost 50,000 years of listening and a lot of insight into what music people love.

Rihanna held onto the throne as the most-streamed female artist for the second year in the row, Imagine Dragons' track Radioactive hit number one in the U.S., and 16-year-old Lorde got crowned most viral new artist of 2013. 

Here are the top ten songs streamed globally:

1.       Can’t Hold Us - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

2.       Wake Me Up– Avicii

3.       Thrift Shop  - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

4.       Get Lucky– Daft Punk

5.       Radioactive - Imagine Dragons

6.       Let Her Go– Passenger

7.       Blurred Lines– Robin Thicke

8.       Just Give Me A Reason– P!nk

9.       Ho Hey– The Lumineers

10.   I Need Your Love– Calvin Harris

(Blast from the past: The top three songs in the U.S. last year were Somebody That I Used To Know, We Are Young, and Call Me Maybe.)

For even more info on who were 2013's chart-toppers, check out Spotify's Year in Review website, then, if you're a Spotify user, create your own year in review.

Now, give the top-streamed tracks a listen:

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In Sony's "Perfect Day" commercial for the PlayStation 4, gamers enter a state of sedated bliss while living out PS4 games and singing the late rock star Lou Reed's hit single of the same name. It premiered on Oct. 15, just days before Reed's death on the 27th.

Guy Longworth, svp of PlayStation brand marketing, told Adweek why the company decided to continue the campaign even after the singer passed:

"We love his music and had no idea about his serious health problems, therefore we were shocked and upset. The ad was already on the air, so we obviously talked about the implications of his passing. But our view was that the spot celebrates gaming and celebrates the life he loved to live. So we felt very comfortable continuing to air the spot."

BBH New York created the ad, which is aimed at hardcore gamers. They will air a new "Perfect Day" commercial later this month using gameplay footage from players who participated in their "First to Greatness" competition.

Here's the ad:

And here's the Lou Reed song that inspired it. Fans have debated for years over whether it's about a romantic relationship or his struggle with heroin:

SEE ALSO: Lou Reed's Most Personal Song About New York Is Not The Same As His Best One

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Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence's next film "American Hustle" is out this Christmas.

The film follows two con artists (played by Adams and Christian Bale) who are working with the FBI to catch corrupt government officials.

By now, you've seen the ads and trailers featuring the two actresses in daring, figure-hugging dresses.

Sony and Columbia Pictures, who are distributing the film, released photos and sketches of the costumes worn in the movie used to transport the cast back to the '70s.

Here's Amy Adams envisioned in a backless, gunmetal sequin evening gown.

And here's Jennifer Lawrence in a white evening gown. She looks like she's crying.

Both gowns were designed by Michael Wilkinson for the film. Here are both actresses in their finished dresses:Here's Adams in another shorter, sheer disco dress.

Adams wears the dress along with a fur in a scene at Studio 54 in the film.

SEE ALSO: A trailer for the film

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Natalie Portman and Chris Hemsworth's "Thor: The Dark World" characters share a passionate kissing scene at the end of the film.

But Portman told the New York Daily News that there's a reason the scene was so steamy—  she wasn't in it!

Instead, Hemsworth's real-life wife, actress Elsa Pataky, threw on a wig and filled in for Portman.

"It was for reshoots and he was working in Hong Kong and I couldn't get there because I was working on my own film," Portman explained. "And so they put his wife in my wig and costume, that's why it was so passionate."

“It was such a perfect solution, wasn’t it,” added Portman.

Apparently they did something right, as the film has gone on to earn a whopping $591,105,086 worldwide.

Hemsworth, 30, has been married to the Spanish-born Pataky, 37, since 2010. The couple have one child and another on the way.

SEE ALSO: DAY IN THE LIFE: How Chris Hemsworth's Stunt Double Stayed In Shape For 'Thor: The Dark World'

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Following Paul Walker's tragic death after a car crash in Valencia, California on Saturday, fans have flooded the street to mourn the 40-year-old actor.

Instead of a crash site, the area now serves as a roadside memorial covered in candles, flowers, notes, and "Fast and Furious" memorabilia.

While Walker's "Fast and Furious" franchise co-stars such as Tyrese and  Vin Diesel have visited the scene of their friend's death, hundreds of fans have also come to pay their respects.

Take a look at new images from the scene:

SEE ALSO: Hollywood Grieves The Tragic Death Of Paul Walker

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Lady Gaga debuted her Jeff Koons' designed "Artpop" album cover on a Times Square billboard, wore an actual flying dress for the record's launch party, and gave a couple of weirdly sexual live performances with R. Kelly for her single "Do What U Want."

And in Japan, she's got "Artpop" playing out of life-size "Gagadolls."

There is a fairly well-documented sex doll subculture in Japan, and one of its leading manufacturers is Orient Industry. Gaga and Universal Music Group's Japanese branch recruited the company to make replicas of the pop star.

In this wonderfully creepy "making of" video, you can see Japanese craftsmen create the doll as a sinister soundtrack transforms into the single "Applause." Enjoy watching a group of men saw, stitch, paint, and mold a silicon-based naked woman, in a factory full of fake body parts, before handing it over to a "passionate" fan: 

The doll plays "Artpop" in its entirety, as well as a several other recorded phrases from Gaga, when someone puts his or her head to its chest.

It's yet to be revealed whether the Gagadolls "function" in the same way that Orient Industry's other products do, or when they will go on sale.

Gaga recently visited Japan, where she posed with the replicas:

Who needs barbies when you can own your own life size pop star that sings to you #gagadollzpic.twitter.com/OE0Cx7DUGp

— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) November 27, 2013

Lady Gaga poses with GAGADOLL in Tokyo today - more pictures here: http://t.co/8PxMxO0GJE - pic.twitter.com/khmqrjEmKh

— Lady Gaga Media (@GagaMediaDotNet) December 1, 2013

Despite reports that Gaga's label Interscope was furious over the lackluster opening sales of "Artpop" compared to those of its predecessor, "Born This Way," it is currently the No. 1 album in both the U.S. and Japan.

SEE ALSO: Watch R.Kelly Play The President In AMA Performance With Lady Gaga

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Actress Evan Rachel Wood is not happy, to say the least, with the MPAA over a recent decision to remove a sex scene from her upcoming movie "Charlie Countryman."

"The indie film, co-starring Shia LaBeouf, featured a graphic scene that had a female receiving oral sex from a man," reports Variety. "But director Frederik Bond was forced to remove the scene in order to obtain an R rating from the Motion Picture Alliance of America."

The actress took to Twitter to explain how she feels about that (hint: not good!).

Warning: colorful language. Read from the bottom up:

"This isn’t the first time oral sex between a man and woman has led to controversy with the MPAA. Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams’ drama 'Blue Valentine' received an NC-17 rating back in 2010," notes Variety, adding that "the ruling was overturned without any changes being made to the the Weinstein Company movie."

SEE ALSO: Actress Maria Bello Comes Out In NY Times 'Modern Love' Column

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If you've always wanted an authentic piece of "Star Wars" history, here's your chance.

The blaster gun Han Solo used in both "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi" is going up for auction — just make sure you have a lot of cash laying around.

The starting bid for the blaster is $200,000.

Sorry folks, it doesn't work.

Here are some details on the gun from Hollywood Auction who is selling the piece:

"Based on the German issue Mauser C96 pistol, this piece, measuring 11 in. long, was custom made for the film from resin by casting the original hero prop from the first Star Wars: A New Hope, it therefore exhibits the same serial number as the hero prop, which is thought to no longer exist. The blaster is exactly in its original filming condition and therefore exhibits wear from use, but retains all of the original details, including the flash suppressor and scope (the eye-piece of which is detailed with reflective scotch-lite tape)."

Cool to note that the gun is also believed to have been used by Mark Hamill, who of course played Luke Skywalker. 

The blaster is up for bid Dec. 21 at 11 a.m. 

Take a look at some photos: 

SEE ALSO: "Star Wars" characters who should get their own spinoff films

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HGTV host Bill Beckwith died Monday night in a motorcycle accident in San Francisco, reports Variety.

Beckwith, 38, was a contractor and carpenter who co-hosted the network's "Curb Appeal," a half-hour home improvement show that began running in 2002. 

"The collision was reported at about 8:30 p.m. Monday near Oak and Steiner streets," reports NBC Bay Area. "Beckwith, a San Francisco resident, was taken to San Francisco General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said."

A Facebook page has been created in Beckwith's memory.

On the page, his girlfriend Yulia Korneeva wrote, "My love: so kind, so bright, adventurous and strong. You are loved by so many good people! I wish you could stay with us for way longer."

SEE ALSO: Paul Walker Dead At 40 After Car Crash

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The most striking thing about the new tell-all from former Jonas Brothers frontman Joe Jonas in New York magazine is how candid it is.

As it turns out, the kid who used to rock shaggy hair and a chastity ring in front of a screaming crowd of tweens is surprisingly normal and well-adjusted.

Jonas is now 24, and his confessional offers insight into what it was like growing up under the watchful eye of Disney.

He and his brothers Nick and Kevin struggled on their own to find an audience, but Disney knew they could shape them into preteen idols on the Disney Channel, like they had done for other stars who came before them. First they had the band as guest stars on Miley Cyrus' show 'Hannah Montana,' and then they gave them their own show, where they played pseudo-versions of themselves:

"But the thing about the show was that some of the writing on it was terrible. It just ended up being some weird slapstick humor that only a 10-year-old would laugh at. They took out the kissing scene that Nick had. I had to shave every day because they wanted me to pretend like I was 16 when I was 20 (when the show was done, I cut my hair off and grew as much of a beard as I could). We went along with it at the time, because we thought Disney was our own real shot, and we were terrified that it could all be taken away from us at any moment."

He described himself and his brothers as "frightened little kids" who did their best to abide by Disney's rules, especially after fellow Disney star Vanessa Hudgen's nude photo scandal in 2007. They were trained to act dumb when asked difficult questions, deferring to a silly subject like their dog. Joe talked about having to sneak hook-up sessions with girls while pretending to be wholesome and non-sexual in public.

Jonas also explained why stars like Miley Cyrus (who introduced him to weed!) feel the need to completely recast themselves post-Disney:

"Being a part of the Disney thing for so long will make you not want to be this perfect little puppet forever. Eventually, I hit a limit and thought, Screw all this, I'm just going to show people who I am. I think that happened to a lot of us. Disney kids are spunky in some way, and I think that's why Disney hires them. 'Look, he jumped up on the table!' Five, six, ten years later, they're like, 'Oh, what do we do?' Come on, guys. You did this to yourselves."

And part of that desire to escape from Disney as these stars grow older is the feeling of entrenchment within the Disney community. When Jonas teamed up with the frontman of indie band Rooney and made an album of demos a few years ago, the record label rejected it, saying that he should instead try linking up with some Disney hit-makers that eventually worked with Selena Gomez and Vanessa Hudgens. "But it felt so fake to me," he said.

SEE ALSO: Miley Cyrus Performed In Front Of A Crying Cat At The AMAs

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The actor argues that the stars of Hollywood's golden age would not be able to cope with the media demands of the 21st century

George Clooney has spoken out about the use of social media by famous people, suggesting that it is not a good idea in an increasingly "restrictive" world of fame.

"I think anyone who is famous is a moron if they're on Twitter", the Gravity star told Esquire magazine, "it's just stupid".

REVIEW: Gravity: 'one of the films of the year'

Clooney added that stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood wouldn't be able to cope with the demands placed on today's acting elite: "Not that I'm comparing myself to Clark Gable, or whoever, but they couldn't survive in this environment. They'd punch the s--- out of some people. It requires a kind of Zen quality."

The 52-year-old said that nobody can prepare you for the world of fame, because "it is shocking how immediately you become enveloped in this world that is incredibly restricting".

Many celebrities, especially musicians, have bolstered their careers through Twitter. The account created for One Direction while the band were still in the live show stages of X Factor helped to build the global fanbase they have today. Lady Gaga communicates directly with her 40 million followers about her forthcoming releases.

In the film industry, some stars have been more reticent. However, British actor Hugh Laurie has gained 230,000 followers a mere month after his first reluctant post: "Having damned this technology as the seed of Satan, I finally succumb."

POLL: THE 20 BEST FILMS OF ALL TIME

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A cinema audience of children waiting to view the hit Disney animation Frozen were accidentally shown a trailer for explicit art house sex epic Nymphomaniac.

Parents in the auditorium in Tampa, Florida, reportedly struggled to cover the eyes of their offspring, while others headed swiftly for the exits, as an apparent technical error saw the promotional clip for Danish agent provocateur Lars von Trier's salacious new film suddenly hit the big screen.

"They put in the filler, it looked like Steamboat Willie, the old Mickey Mouse cartoon, and then all of a sudden it goes into this other scene," grandmother Lynn Greene told My Fox Tampa Bay. "It seemed like forever when you're trying to, you know, cover a little guy's eyes. I didn't have enough hands to cover his ears too and he got the sound down real good.

"You're talking, what, a PG-rated movie to all of a sudden have an R-rated scene up there for little children?" she added. "My concern is that there should be safeguards in place so that this doesn't happen again."

The trailer has been described by Vanity Fair as one of the most explicit ever to be shown in mainstream cinemas. A teaser trailer was briefly removed from YouTube last month after apparently falling foul of the site's rules on nudity and sexual content.

Von Trier's much-hyped film, which features Uma Thurman, Stellan Skarsgård, Christian Slater, Jamie Bell and Shia LaBeouf, will use digital trickery and body doubles to portray its famous stars having sex. It is due to premiere in Copenhagen on Christmas Day and is then likely to hit the festival circuit, with a possible appearance at Cannes in May.

• What do you think of the first trailer for Lars von Trier's sex-addict film?
• Nymphomaniac to be hardcore only as Lars von Trier gives up final cut

This article originally appeared on guardian.co.uk

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Sony Pictures has finally released a high quality version of its action-packed "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" triptych poster which features not one, but three villains. 

If you're a fan of Spider-Man, you've probably seen shots of this poster circulating around the Internet.

The poster reveal comes two days ahead of the film's first trailer.

Let's take a closer look at each villain.
The Rhino looks sort of like a Transformer.Here's who looks like Dane DeHaan as the Goblin from the poster's center:And here is Jamie Foxx's Electro who we are familiar with by now:Eagle eyes will spot the OsCorp logo hovering in the background:

We know what you're thinking — it's "Spider-Man 3" all over again.

It's no secret fans weren't pleased with the seemingly overstuffed abundance of villains in Sam Raimi's 2007 flick starring Tobey Maguire which had Spider-Man facing off against the Sandman, Venom, AND the Green Goblin.

However, it looks like this is a slow introduction to Spidey's main villain group, the Sinister Six — something we've always figured since the first film. 

The group is comprised of members who have ranged from Electro, Green Goblin, Doctor Ocopus, Sandman, and Kraven the Hunter to appearances by Mysterio, Venom, and Vulture, and the Lizard (who was in "The Amazing Spider-Man"). At times, the group has been headed by Norman Osborn who was briefly hinted at during the end of the first film.

Their introduction would make sense with the recently announced future Spider-Man spinoff movies.

Sony Pictures Entertainment chief Michael Linton told analysts last month "a number of scripts [are] in the works." 

Sony also released an updated synopsis for the film highlighting the entry of character Harry Osborn:

We’ve always known that Spider-Man’s most important battle has been within himself: the struggle between the ordinary obligations of Peter Parker and the extraordinary responsibilities of Spider-Man. But in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Peter Parker finds that a greater conflict lies ahead.

It’s great to be Spider-Man (Andrew Garfield). For Peter Parker, there’s no feeling quite like swinging between skyscrapers, embracing being the hero, and spending time with Gwen (Emma Stone). But being Spider-Man comes at a price: only Spider-Man can protect his fellow New Yorkers from the formidable villains that threaten the city. With the emergence of Electro (Jamie Foxx), Peter must confront a foe far more powerful than he. And as his old friend, Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan), returns, Peter comes to realize that all of his enemies have one thing in common: OsCorp.

SEE ALSO: Photos of "The Amazing Spider-Man" sequel filming in NYC

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Good morning, AdLand. Here's what you need to know today:

As part of the ubiquitous campaign for the upcoming movie Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, liquor marketer Riviera Imports has released a Ron Burgundy-branded scotch called "Great Odin's Raven Special Reserve."

In other Anchorman 2 promotional news (there is a lot of it!), Paramount is allowing fans to see the movie two days before its Dec. 18 release date if they pay $33 for a "superticket," which also includes a download of an alternate version of the original movie, a pre-order of a DVD for the second movie, and a $5 concession gift card. Here's the funny promotional video Will Ferrell made for the superticket:

In non-Ron Burgundy news, media buying firm Starcommade a deal with data management giant Axciom that will allow Starcom to use Axciom's audience segmenting and targeting system across online and offline media.

The San Francisco agency Muh-Tay-Zik/Hof-Ferput its office on Google Street View, and played on the service's "no faces" policy by having all of its employees wear ski masks.

Sprintwill debut the latest in its series of text exchange/phone call ads tonight on the Twitter feed of one of its fans. The campaign, by Leo Burnett Chicago, features the actors James Earl Jones and Malcolm McDowell reading real text exchanges or phone call transcripts in serious voices, which leads to the guy who voiced Darth Vader saying things like "Totes McGotes."

Netflixreleased a new video ad from Deutsch LA that touts its ability to bring families together during the holidays and is driven by the voice work of former Sopranos actress Lorraine Bracco. As the streaming video service approaches market saturation, it's pivoting its advertising from direct-response marketing to video and print creative meant to enhance its brand.

The online media platform Blinkxacquired the mobile video advertising company Rhythm NewMedia for $65 million.

72andSunny Amsterdamhired Simon Summerscales, formerly of Wieden+Kennedy London and Caroline Britt, formerly of TBWA\Chiat\Day LA to be its director of communication strategy and group brand director, respectively. 

Previously on Business Insider Advertising:

• How The Disney Marketing Machine Creates A Teen Star

• How Facebook's News Feed Changes Will Hurt Twitter

• A Japanese Sex Doll Company Is Now Making Life-Size Lady Gaga Replicas

• Snapchat Just Nabbed An Important Advertising Exec Away From Facebook

• Here's How SoulCycle Keeps Customers Paying $34 For A Spinning Class

• Pepsi's Extraordinary Plan To Fool Your Taste Buds

• Sony Exec Explains Why Playstation Kept Running Its 'Perfect Day' Campaign After Lou Reed's Death

• How The Death Of The Cookie Will Only Help The Rich Get Richer

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Following some casting hiccups and production delays, the big-screen adaptation of E.L. James' extremely successful novel, "Fifty Shades of Grey" has officially hit the ground running.

The crew began filming in Vancouver this past weekend, Marcia Gay Harden and popular British singer Rita Ora just joined the cast, and James' Instagram photos from the film's production have us more excited than ever.

But before we start our countdown to release day, let's get our facts straight:

The Story

• "Fifty Shades of Grey" is the first installment in an erotic trilogy that follows the relationship between recent college graduate, Anastasia Steele and a billionaire tycoon, Christian Grey. In a plot full of explicit sexual content — bondage, dominance, and masochism — the innocent and young Anastasia is pursued by the older, experienced Christian.

The Director

• Sam Taylor-Johnson, a London-born director and actress, is directing "Fifty Shades." Taylor-Johnson has only one prior feature film to her name, the John Lennon biopic, "Nowhere Boy." In response to the announcement that she would be directing the erotic film, Taylor-Johnson said, "I am excited to be charged with the evolution of 'Fifty Shades of Grey' from page to screen."

The Cast

• Dakota Johnson will play the 21-year-old Anastasia Steele, as announced by E.L. James on Twitter in early September. Johnson is best known for her role in Fox's cancelled "Ben and Kate" and a cameo in "The Social Network."
• Jamie Dornan is set to take on the role of Christian Grey — a part originally held but dropped by "Sons of Anarchy" actor Charlie Hunnam. While Dornan doesn't have many lead parts to his name, you may recognize him from "Marie Antoinette" with Kirsten Dunst, and ABC's "Once Upon A Time." 
• Luke Grimes will play Christian's brother, Elliot. Grimes is best known for his role as James on "True Blood" and as Jamie in "Taken 2."
• "The Ides of March" actress Jennifer Ehle will play Anastasia's mother, Carla.
• British singer Rita Ora will play Christian Grey's adopted sister, Mia. 
• Eloise Mumford, who appeared in ABC's "The River," will play Anastasia Steele's roomie, Kate.
• Max Martini of "Captain Phillips" will play Christian Grey's bodyguard.
• Marcia Gay Harding was just cast as Christian, Mia, and Elliot's adoptive mother, Dr. Grace Trevelyan Grey. Harding recently finished shooting Woody Allen's "Magic in the Moonlight."

Filming Details

• Following Hunnam's departure from the cast, production was delayed and the film's release date was pushed back from August 2014 to February 2015.
• The cast began filming on Dec. 1 in Vancouver and author E.L. James shared the below photo on Instagram.

Publicity

• Following the cast's first day of filming, photos of Johnson and Dornan filming a coffee shop scene were released.
• Dornan and Johnson appeared as their "Fifty Shades of Grey" characters on a November cover of Entertainment Weekly.

SEE ALSO: FIRST PHOTO: Dakota Johnson And Jamie Dornan In Character For 'Fifty Shades Of Grey' Movie

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If you've ever read "American Pie" star Jason Biggs' Twitter feed, you know he's not afraid of a little crass humor.

But even he thought a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf café in Los Angeles crossed the line by displaying two tip jars on the check out counter labeled "Fast and Furious" and "Varsity Blues" — two of his late friend Paul Walker's most popular movies.

Biggs, who co-starred with Walker in "Eight Below," called out the coffee chain by tweeting:

Umm, am I crazy, or does this seem exploitive and in poor taste? @CoffeeBeanLApic.twitter.com/VJYv71VoDo

— Jason Biggs (@JasonBiggs) December 3, 2013

Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has since responded with a statement:

“This is completely inconsistent with our brand values and the jars have since been removed. Our thoughts and condolences remain with the many friends and family of Paul Walker during this difficult time. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf would like to thank Jason Biggs for bringing this matter to our attention.”

Handling Walker's death with a bit more compassion is Universal, as the studio announced that it will donate a percentage of the proceeds from the upcoming "Fast & Furious 6" DVD, Blu-Ray and digital releases to Walker’s charity, Reach Out Worldwide. 

SEE ALSO: Hollywood grieves the tragic death of Paul Walker

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