Bollywood Actor Salman Khan is special says Asin

Bollywood Actress Asin is waiting with bated breathe for her June 3rd release Ready movie, starring Salman Khan in the lead. This film is crucial for the actress as Ready's result would decide the future of her in Bollywood. This is a remake of Telugu hit with same name.

Salman Khan has been the mentor for Asin in B town, who signed her in London Dreams and Ready. She has a very good rapport with him and says that she has never come across anyone like Salman in tinsel town. "Cinema industry is known for double standards and Salman doesn't have any," Asin told.

"He never speaks one thing on the face and other on your back," said Asin about Salman Khan. He is something special and I would love to act with him again and again, she added. Asin also condemned the rumors linking with Salman and told they share a good professional relationship and just that!

Daniel Craig's The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Movie Trailer with Rooney Mara

David Fincher nearly passed on directing "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." Good thing he had a change of heart.

The first red band trailer for the American film version of Stieg Larsson's international best selling mystery novel has hit the web, and from the looks of it, the Oscar-nominated director of "The Social Network" has tapped into his "Fight Club" and "Se7en" roots to create a darkly epic tale.


With Daniel Craig as Mikael Blomkvist and Rooney Mara as Lisabeth Salander, the red band trailer, leaked onto the web after appearing in theaters this week, zooms through nearly the entire story of the first book, with quick cuts promising action and suspense -- and a fair amount of blood.

Pegged as the "feel bad movie of Christmas," the film is set to hit theaters on December 21st.

Two New 'Terminator' films could net Arnold Schwarzenegger 24m Pounds

Arnold Schwarzenegger has been offered to star in two new 'Terminator' films that could net him around 24million pounds- the biggest comeback chance in Hollywood history.


The former California governor, who is facing a divorce battle over his 242million pounds fortune with wife Maria Shriver, had put his big screen return on hold.

But Tinseltown producer Megan Ellison wants him to star in two new 'Terminator' movies.

She bought the rights for 12million pounds at this month's Cannes Film Festival.

Bosses at Creative Artists Agency, which represents Schwarzenegger and has also acted as an adviser to Megan, are now brokering a deal over the new movies.

Los Angeles media analyst Mike Raia said he would expect the love-cheat action hero to command at least 12million pounds per movie.

"This is the blockbuster comeback that he won't pass up," the Daily Star quoted him as saying.

Shirtless Shia LaBeouf Hangs With Girlfriend Karolyn Pho

Going for a romantic stroll, Shia LaBeouf was spotted flaunting his ripped torso while out on a walk in Los Angeles, California with girlfriend Karolyn Pho Friday morning, May 20th, 2011.


The once scrawny actor is clearly proud of his transformation into a beefed up LaBeouf, and his lady couldn’t keep her hands off his jacked up body as they enjoyed a morning stroll.

The hotly anticipated Transformers: Dark of the Moon, the third installment in the successful Transformers franchise, will open the 33rd Moscow International Film Festival on June 23rd. The film festival opening will take place at the Pushkinsky Cinema Theatre in Moscow, with director Michael Bay and the film’s stars Shia LaBeouf, new leading lady Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Patrick Dempsey, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson and John Malkovich expected to attend.

This is the first time the Moscow International Film Festival is opened not just by an American blockbuster with a Hollywood cast, but by a world premiere of the film. The film will also premiere in 3D.

Bradley Cooper says 'Hangover Helped My Career'

Bradley Cooper has 'more doors opened' to him since he appeared in 'The Hangover'.

The 36-year-old actor - who began his career with a small part on 'Sex and the City' opposite Sarah Jessica Parker - is thankful for the 2009 comedy movie, but still has to audition to get parts.

He said: 'More doors have been opened, for sure, but it's not like I sit back with a cigar on Monday morning and go through the scripts that have been offered.

'That's not the case. I still put myself on tape to audition for movies and try to get roles.'

Bradley is currently starring in the sequel to the 'Hangover', and he believes director Todd Phillips was more confident when he shot the follow-up, which filmed in Thai capital Bangkok.

He said: 'It's a more confidently directed film by Todd. The first one moves like a bottle rocket, this one takes its time. I'm curious how people will react to how dark it is and how much time is taken with it.'

James Franco's Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes is Visual Effects Treat

Will Rodman, is a scientist who's hugely dedicated to his job in the hope that he'll find a cure for the degenerative illness Alzheimer's. Having developed a formula that looks to reverse some of the damage done to the brain his lab begins to test the medication on apes.

Caesar is Will's main test subject and as the treatment plan starts to take shape, the scientist notices that Caesar's intelligence is starting to develop at a fast rate, 'the cure' has been so effective on Caesar he begins to take on multiple human characteristics.

Having bonded with Caesar Will feels the animal is no longer suitable to stay in such harsh lab surroundings and decides he'll take the ape home but soon it becomes apparent that he's unable to look after Caesar and the ape will have to be returned to a lab. 

Under the 'care' of lab employees who mistreat the animals, Caesar soon realises that most humans aren't like Will who's been his primary carer up until now. Seeking freedom he and the other developed apes use their knowledge to escape and take revenge on the human race. It will be released in theaters on August 5, 2011.

Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes is a prequel to Franklin J. Schaffner's original movie released in 1968.

Jack Sparrow Have More Funny Then Pirates series 2 & 3

Johnny Depp returns as Captain Jack Sparrow once again.

However the appeal of everlasting life many not be the only reason for some smitten characters to take part in the voyage.

Keeping in turn with the Trilogy before it, the new Pirates of the Caribbean is fast paced and very funny.


However, unlike the second and third installment, the writers decided to keep the plot simplistic which many viewers will appreciate.

These films would just not be the same Pirates of the Caribbean, without one man, the ever quirky and captive, Captain Jack Sparrow. Funny and easy on the eye as always, some of his best lines in this film include:

“You know that feeling you get when you’re standing in a high place… and feel the sudden urge to jump?…. I don’t have it.”

Or, “I thought I should give you warning. We’re taking the ship. It’s nothing personal.”

A new addition to the cast is Penelope Cruz, who plays the fabulous vixen that is ‘Angelica Malon’, the long lost daughter of deadly pirate ‘Black Beard’.

In true heroin style Angelica is formidable, strong and very sexy. Enough even to tempt the infamous Jack Sparrow’s heart and get him to play by her rules, if only just for a short time.

Indefinitely what sets this movie apart from the first three, is the unforgettable mermaids scene, in which the graphics here are spectacular, and truly explore the legends surrounding these dark creatures.

The scenes are quite creepy at times and give this film darker undertones.

I viewed the film in 3D, but would not really recommend this. At the beginning it is amusing, but a majority of the action happens in the dark, and the graphics in the series have always been widely renowned, so viewing in 3D doesn’t really add anything to the experience.

Sadly, there were a couple of criticisms of the latest film. One was the sub-plot involving the mermaids, which was left completely unresolved at the end of the movie; whilst the second surrounded Captain Jack Sparrow.

Whilst he is clearly the star of the movies, he didn’t need to have all the good lines and jokes. Many of his fellow characters were left overshadowed and those who been there from the beginning, such as Gibbs and Barbossa, seemed played out and bored with their roles.

Orlando Bloom To Star In The Hobbit

Orlando Bloom is reuniting with his 'Lord of the Rings' director Peter Jackson for 'The Hobbit', the much hyped adaptation of JRR Tolkien's original novel.

Jackson says he is thrilled to work again with Bloom, who played elf Legolas in the 'Rings' series. But the actor will appear in a different role in the new movie, the Hollywood Reporter said.

"Ten years ago, Orlando Bloom created an iconic character with his portrayal of Legolas. I'm excited to announce today that we'll be revisiting Middle Earth with him once more. I'm thrilled to be working with Orlando again," Jackson said in a Facebook post.

The director is currently directing the two-movie adaptation in New Zealand.

The films helped Bloom to achieve stardom. Jackson wrote on his Facebook page, "I look older and he doesn't! I guess that's why he makes such a wonderful elf."

The Hobbit movies, which have been in the works for 14 years, has faced a series of setbacks.

Actors Cate Blanchett, Ian McKellen, Elijah Wood and Andy Serkis are also reprising their roles from Rings in the prequel, which centers on Bilbo (Freeman) finding the supernatural ring and passing it on to his nephew, Frodo (Wood).

The first of the two movies is planned for a December 2012 release and the second is expected a year later.

Ryan Reynolds still hurting after split with Scarlett Johansson

Ryan Reynolds says he's still broken up about losing Scarlett Johansson. You can't blame him, considering that she's now with wrinkly Sean Penn.

"Anyone who gets divorced goes through a lot of pain, but you come out of it," Reynolds tells Details mag. "I'm not out of it yet. At all." He's still at the "I don't think I want to get married again" stage.

In fact, despite reports of him messing around with blond German model Agnes Fischer, Reynolds claims that even dating "just seems so kind of alien to me at this point."

He's 34. ScarJo is 26. Penn is 50.

Matthew Vaughn has had his lawyers formally deny an E! Online report suggesting, on the basis of circumstantial evidence, that he's the father of January Jones's unborn baby.

You'll recall that he directed her in this new X-Men movie, and that she refuses to name the baby-daddy. E! said the two were very close on-set.

If this is true, Vaughn will become known to history as the man who cheated on the astonishing Claudia Schiffer, to whom he has been married for nine years and has three kids.

Amy Poehler, speaking to Harvard's graduating class, offered this advice: "Would it kill you to be nicer to your parents? They have sacrificed so much for you and all they want you to do is smile and take a picture with your weird cousins. Do that for them. And with less eye-rolling, please."

Guys! Thinking of shaving your head? Take a tip from actor Taye Diggs: "If you don't use a shaving gel or oil, you will regret it. This is the 'secret sauce' when shaving" (your dome).

Charlie Sheen is selling his 7,900-square-foot party crib in L.A., asking $7.2 million. In his droll fashion, he calls the place Sober Valley Lodge.

When Charlie divorced Brooke Mueller, he got the house, buying out her share for $1 million, as part of their financial settlement.

Talk about winning: he bought the joint for just $2.5 million in 1997.

Don't worry; he's not homeless. He recently bought a bigger place nearby.

Parents: you have been warned! Don't mess with their phones!: Police in Tahuya, Wash., southwest of Seattle, say a man is in serious condition after his daughter, 15, shot him in the torso with a hunting bow. She got angry when he tried to take away her cellphone, as punishment for something.

She then refused to let the man, 35, use the phone to call for help; he had to crawl to a neighbour's house.

She took off into the woods with the bow and 35 arrows, but surrendered quietly to a SWAT team.

Men In Black III Star Will Smith Is Not Dead!

Will Smith is not dead. Rumor is swirling on the social networks that Will Smith fell to his death while shooting his new movie in New Zealand.
This rumor has been on the internet for over four weeks and it is not true. We know this is not true, as Will Smith is in New York filming Men In Black III and not New Zealand.

Sometimes these rumors get out of hand and become trending topics and posts all over facebook walls, so GlobalGrind wanted to clear the air and report that big Willy Style is alive and well. His kids most recently hung out with Will on his movie set joined by their good friends, Paris, Prince and Blanket Jackson. We hope the best for Will and his family and can't wait to see the flick!

Will Smith, Josh Brolin and director Barry Sonnenfeld filming on location for "Men In Black III" on May 25, 2011 in the Queens borough of New York City.

"Transporter" Star Jason Statham selling Hollywood home

Jason Statham is selling his Hollywood home for $2.74 million as he is in the process of building a lovenest for him and model girlfriend Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.

Jason Statham is selling his Hollywood home for $2.74 million.

The British actor – who moved to Los Angeles almost 10 years ago – has put his three-bedroom contemporary glassed walled house on the market as he is in the process of building a lovenest for him and model girlfriend Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.

The three-bedroom, three-bathroom Hollywood Hills property is set over an open-plan design and includes a swimming pool surrounded by hedges, giving a sense of privacy.

However, sources say he is keen to move as the home is very much his taste and he wants something to represent both him and Rosie, who he has been dating since last year.

A real estate source is quoted by the Mail Online website as saying: “The house has a very macho feel to it.

“You can image that Jason would have felt comfortable there. The décor is sleek and modern. It's an amazing place but Jason wants to move somewhere new that suits Rosie's style as well.”

The ‘Expendables’ star – who bought the property for $2.4 million in 2005 – has purchased some land in the same area to build a brand new home on a much larger scale.

 Transformers 3 Star  Rosie Huntington-Whiteley Unsensored Hot Pictures

'The Hangover Part II' a Funny, Formulaic, Desperately Shocking Carbon Copy

Business and creative people go together as well as fine wine at a burger joint. Riding on the heels of the monumentally profitable “The Hangover,” in “The Hangover Part II” the brass win out over the artists.


Sequels usually fail because they’re just subpar compared to their initial flash of genius. On the surface, “The Hangover Part II” appears to take chances by radically upping the ante on the film’s shock factor. But delving beneath the smoke and mirrors, the film actually is trying desperately not to let you down by riling you up even more.

Part two puts a new meaning to “Bangcock” when the film’s bachelor finds a woman who, if she was a Ms. Potato Head, was misassembled with one body part that makes you go hmmmm. Successful comedy, though, doesn’t come from having to drop more “F” bombs or falling down more stairs. Just ask Bill Cosby. That man could make the vanilla subject of his family funny.

Instead, “The Hangover Part II” falls victim to a pure numbers game. Two years ago, the surprise hit “The Hangover” unpredictably grossed a whopping $467 million globally on a budget of $35 billion. As sequels almost always get a larger budget the second time around after their first was highly profitable, “The Hangover Part II” more than doubled the budget to $80 million.

And with more than twice as much money to work with, the stakes are even higher this time around to dish out another cash cow. That’s why the creative team behind “The Hangover Part II” was only allowed to write the same kind of material within the same exact formula as the first film because Warner Bros. knows that equation works. In the sequel, they figured it’d be too risky to upset the applecart with a bold new direction.

This formula worked so well the first time because we were surprised with it. This time, we’ve seen it before and it’s less effective. Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms and Ken Jeong return with pretty much the same exact film but in a different country, with someone different to marry and a monkey that’s cute as hell instead of a baby. Elements such as the all-too-familiar elevator scene and the same cell phone picture wrap-up are the double-edged sword of disappointing and enjoyable once more.

“The Hangover Part II” starts right after the Las Vegas bachelor party from the first film. This time around, Phil, Stu, Alan and Doug whisk themselves off to Thailand for Stu’s wedding. Stu jokes about wanting to have his bachelor party at IHOP, but the Bradley Cooper refuses to let his buddy get off that easy. Plus, there wouldn’t be another movie unless Stu’s subsequent plan for a subdued pre-wedding brunch goes atomically awry.

Of course, a comedy’s No. 1 mission is to entertainingly make you laugh. Just as the first film scores 8 out of 10 points on the funny farm, the sequel does again. And if you’re willing to accept that part two is the same exact film just with the difference of a “two” in the title and a new girl to marry in a new, far-off land, then you’ll even find yourself enjoying the over-the-top shock factor, too.

While Ed Helms and Bradley Cooper continue to consume too much screen time but do help to create a strong comedic ensemble, thankfully the creepy, awkward and just-funny-to-look-at Zach Galifianakis again serves as the film’s leading comic relief. Without Galifianakis in this Jack Black-like role, these films would be devoid like a skeleton without any of its bones.

Also, supporter Ken Jeong returns in another enjoyable performance. He’s one of the few actors who can make discussing himself in the first person seem cool. Finally, rather than using a baby in the first film to capture your oooohs and awwwws, this one pleasantly stars a smoking monkey. If you’re watching nothing else, just studying his fascinating and intricate facial expressions is worth six of your 10 bucks alone.

That said, there’s a disappointing cameo use of “A”-lister Paul Giamatti. While enjoyable in a brief restaurant scene, his talent is underutilized. He should have either been more funny or more badass. Instead, he’s just a little bit of both for too short of a time. Come on, Paul. We’ve seen you tote a gun better than this. Remember “Shoot ‘Em Up”?

And while Mike Tyson’s return cameo was clearly meant to be funny, instead he offers one of the worst and most unfunny song and dance we’ve seen on screen in recent years. Newcomer Mason Lee experiences an unrealistic character evolution from his initial understanding as an Ivy League-caliber beacon of light to a raucous, “I lost my finger but it’s cool” party freak.

I have very high standards for on-screen chemical romance. If you’re going to make two people fall in fantasy love, we’d better be able to buy into it. I’ve been trashing on-screen chemistry a lot lately because most attempts at Hollywood love stories have recently failed miserably. Ed Helms with wife Jamie Chung couldn’t be more wrong for each other. It’s the film’s most humdrum joke that wasn’t meant to be comical.

Ryan Reynolds: 'I Don't Think I Want to Get Married Again'

Although he worked his entire career to stay out of those magazines with the splashy headlines and rumor mill rumblings, Ryan Reynolds found himself on the cover of every one of them when he split from wife of two years, Scarlett Johansson, in December 2010.
Now, he's opening up to Details magazine about the physics of failed relationships.

"Relationships ending move you from who you were to who you are at a much more accelerated rate than almost anything else on earth," he explained.

Since his split with arguably the sexiest woman in Hollywood, while she has been able to move on -- and has publicly done so with Sean Penn -- Reynolds has no plans to get serious with anyone until he finds his way back to normal.

"Anyone who gets divorced goes through a lot of pain," he told Details. "But you come out of it. I'm not out of it yet. At all."

And the media's prying eye didn't help Reynolds to get over his marquee size love any faster. Although he understands that the salacious and salivating media comes with the territory, it doesn't mean he has to like it.

"I'll say this: The media wasn't invited to my marriage, and they're definitely not invited into the divorce."

But invited or not, they assumed a front row seat -- however legitimate their information was.

"What was happening privately was the exact opposite of what was being reported," he said. "There was no story and no scandal, so the narrative was just created for me. That was the most disturbing part. I wasn't angry. I absolutely predicted every beat of it ... There was a time, though, when looking at the Internet was a miracle cure for feeling good about myself."



But that time must have come and gone quickly as just months after the couple filed their divorce papers, Johansson was seen about town with her new beau, Penn. And although Johansson looks to be enjoying her new love interest, or rebound, Reynolds is content flying solo for a while, and possibly forever.

"I have not interest in dating right now," he said. "It just seems so kind of alien to me at this point ... I don't think I want to get married again."

But, still, like many of his jovial on-screen characters, Reynolds is able to see the silver lining in his darkness.

"Any kind of crisis can be good. It wakes you up. I gotta say, I'm a different person that I was six months ago."
Lighting up the box office instead of the tabloids with his bevy of forthcoming projects, including the highly anticipated 'Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters,' we have no doubt that America will come to know and respect the single man.

Taylor Lautner Says Kristen Stewart Was “Most Upset” About ‘Breaking Dawn’ Ending

Who was the most upset about Breaking Dawn coming to an end? Taylor Lautner told Jimmy Kimmel he was “surprised” by how upset Kristen Stewart got on set.


“All done,” Taylor confirmed on Jimmy Kimmel Live about wrapping filming on Breaking Dawn. “It’s very weird. Yeah, we’ve literally been filming these movies for the past three or four years. It’s strange to know I’m not going back; I’m not going to be Jacob Black anymore. But on the other hand, we’re going to be promoting these movies for the next two years.”

“Did anyone cry?” Jimmy asked.

“Yes, to be honest with you,” Taylor confessed.

“Who was most upset about breaking up the group?” the host asked.

“I was pretty upset myself, but I think the biggest surprise was Kristen Stewart.” She’s very sweet, yes,” he said to the audience. “I predicted it from the beginning… On the last day, it did get emotional.”

Taylor also revealed a new movie clip from his upcoming film, Abduction, that shows off his martial arts skills.

“It was just a coincidence [that I used to study martial arts and now I do action flicks],” he explained. “When I was young, I did every sport possible, and martial arts was one of them. This movie was the first time I got to use it.”

Kristen Stewart Made Breakfast In Bed For Robert Pattinson

A couple of weeks ago, we speculated on what Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart would get up to on his 25th birthday - and we got it very, very wrong.


Robert Pattinson hit the quarter century mark on May 13, celebrating the day with his girlfriend in Toronto, Canada.

With Robert Pattinson jetting round the world promoting Water for Elephants, Kristen arrived in the city a little bit earlier to make sure his big day was as memorable as possible.

A source at the hotel in which they stayed told OK magazine: "Kristen kept to herself and was really polite to the staff. She had on a baseball cap and skinny jeans and did a good job of blending in."

Quiet she may have been, but she was busy, too - cooking him a pasta filled dinner, stocking up on his favorite beer, and getting the music he loves.

Arriving on May 8, Rob was said to be shocked at what he called a "perfect" evening.

The source continued: "After dinner, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart curled up on the couch with Bear and watched movies. Rob thought it was perfect."

The next day, KStew took to the kitchen once more to whip Rob up a full English breakfast.

Sadly for the couple, it's back to business as usual - Kristen's over in England, and Rob's back at work - but still in Toronto - shooting Cosmopolis.

Jessica Biel, Kate Beckinsale and Bill Nighy confirmed for Total Recall

 The remake that no one wants to see has somehow managed to trick every actor in Hollywood into thinking it’s something they want to star in. 

Director Len Wiseman has somehow managed to attract a cast that includes Colin Farrell, Bryan Cranston, Jessica Biel, Kate Beckinsale and Billy Nighy, the latter three of which were confirmed today.  

They even have Ethan Hawke in a cameo role, which he described as a 5-page monologue.  I was confused about Hawke’s involvement, but it makes sense that he would take a role just to do a monologue.  

And we know Beckinsale is married to Wiseman.  As for Farrell and Biel, your guess is as good as mine.

The film is said to be a different take on Philip K. Dick’s short story ‘We Can Remember It for You Wholesale’ than the original Arnold Schwarzenegger film.  

In fact, this version is supposedly not even going to feature Mars.  I’m not sure how that will work, but filming starts Monday for an August, 2012 release date.

'The Hangover 2' drunk on formula, not originality

For anyone who has seen "The Hangover" and loved it, it won't come as any big surprise to see that adage at work in "The Hangover Part II."


Todd Phillips' sequel to the most successful R-rated comedy of all time is just as raunchy and just as preposterous as the first movie's trip to Vegas. He takes the formula and re-heats it.

The film's colourful heroes also awake in another strange city, this time in Bangkok, with no clue how they got there. But repeating history, rather the reinventing it, is where director Phillips makes his fatal mistake with this sequel.

As the film begins, Ed Helms' character, Stu, is about to walk down the aisle on a beach in Thailand. His fiancée's father loathes him.

His fiancée's brilliant teen brother makes Stu look like a total loser to the bride's family. Stu withstands these pressures thanks the support of friends like Phil, played by Bradley Cooper and Alan, played by Zack Galifianakis. They've all travelled to Thailand to stand by their pal.

But Stu is no fool. He knows that trouble follows this "wolf pack" wherever they go. To avoid a repeat of Vegas, Stu insists that no bachelor party takes place in his honour. He organizes and reorganizes every wedding detail so that nothing goes wrong.

Despite all his efforts, an innocent toast to the groom on the beach lands Stu and his buddies in some seedy Bangkok hotel.

No one knows how they got there. No one knows why there's blood on the floor or why a detached finger is in the room.

More important still, these grimy, sozzled American tourists can't figure out where Stu's future brother-in-law is. The 16-year-old whiz kid is missing in action.

All these boys know is that a chain-smoking capuchin monkey is in their room and that Stu's wedding is a day away. With time ticking down, the friends pool what wits they have left to solve this mystery and get Stu married as planned.

Bangkok isn't so merry for "Hangover 2's" heroes:

"Hangover 2" does have some good things going for it. Phillips definitely pays more attention to character development in this entry.

That's particularly the case with Helms' character, who goes from a nice, well-meaning doormat to a guy who can stand up to his condescending future father-in-law.

The dynamic between the alpha male Cooper and Galifianakas' nutty man-child Alan also gets fleshed out nicely. But for all its gross-out fun, "The Hangover Part II" feels like more of the same.

There's no real rush of excitement. No breathless laughs come after these pals find their sanity and find their way home.

What made "The Hangover" so great was that it was shocking. It was unlike any other buddy road trip Hollywood had seen.

It also captured the pulse of entire generation. Greatness like that is nowhere to be found in "The Hangover Part II." When Phil and the gang finally regain consciousness and return to the land of the living their raunchy ride does inspire some good laughs. But the overwhelming feeling they leave us with is that we've all travelled down this drunken road before.

The Hangover II: It's never quite as fun the second time

Director Todd Phillips’s modus operandi when crafting the The Hangover Part II was clearly thus: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.


So he doesn’t throw in a new thing, opting instead to recast the same players, follow the identical concept and dish out dialogue that shocks and is funny in parts, but nevertheless lacks the raunchy wit of its hard-to-top predecessor.

Phillips can’t be blamed for falling back on a formula that made the first Hangover such a huge success in 2009. It ranked as the No. 1 R-rated comedy of all time, earning more than $467-million (U.S.) worldwide.

Opening Thursday just ahead of Memorial Day weekend in the United States, this film is projected to make more than $100-million – possibly up to $120 million – at the domestic box office, earning it yet another distinction as the first R-rated film to do so. If that happens, no doubt Part III will soon be in the works.

But the original film’s magic lay in the fact that it delivered the totally unexpected. Audiences were blown away by the hilarity that ensued when the “wolf pack” (Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zach Galifianakis) descended on Las Vegas for Doug’s (Justin Bartha) botched bachelor party, only to wreak havoc. And they were smitten by the undeniable chemistry of a cast who were then relative unknowns, particularly the warped man-child known as Alan, played to perfection by the scene-stealing Galifianakis.

The Hangover made the actors A-list Hollywood stars. But despite the indisputable talent of this cast, The Hangover Part II doesn’t deliver the same zany punch of its predecessor. This time, the boys have gathered in Bangkok for Stu’s upcoming nuptials to the lovely Lauren (Jamie Chung). The ever-cautious dentist, still scarred from his tooth loss and shotgun marriage to a hooker (she was a “sweet lady”) in Vegas, he eschews a bachelor party in favour of a bachelor brunch.

A crushed Phil gets the groom-to-be to agree to have at least one beer on the beach. The next morning, the hapless threesome wakes up to find themselves in a fleabag Bangkok hotel. Alan is hairless. Stu, sporting a face tattoo, is curled up in a tub. And all that remains of Lauren’s 16-year-old brother Teddy (Mason Lee), who had joined them on the beach, is a finger, chilling in ice on a nightstand.

Back is the requisite blackout and quest to retrace their steps of the night before. But instead of carting around a sunglass-wearing baby, the boys are saddled with a chain-smoking, drug-dealing capuchin monkey.

They also get reacquainted with Ken Jeong’s Mr. Chow, whose role has been expanded, and retired heavyweight Mike Tyson. There are no cameos from Bill Clinton or Mel Gibson, but Paul Giamatti is wonderful as a local crime lord seeking payback from the effeminate Mr. Chow.

The high-speed car chase doesn’t disappoint. The soundtrack is as eclectic as the first. The ending credits are as X-rated as before. And a scene in a strip club is jaw-dropping, if not slightly scarring.

The script by Phillips, along with Craig Mazin and Scot Armstrong, is undeniably funny in parts, but the salacious spark and brilliant pacing of the original is off.

The Hangover Part II is by no means a bad film. It’s just a pale copy of the original. Having said that, none of it is going to matter a whit to the legion of diehard Hangover fans who have been waiting two years to be taken on another night-long tear with Stu, Alan and Phil.

Fourth 'Pirates of the Caribbean' unsatisfying?

Captains always go down with the ship  even the swishing, mumbling, mascaraed ones.

How else to explain why Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow has remained  helming the serviceable but unsatisfying Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides  when most of his former mates have bailed? Apparently Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Bill Nighy and Stellan Skarsgard all snapped up the last of the lifeboats.

True, there's no question this fourth entry in the seafaring franchise will loot the box office this weekend after it opens nationwide late Thursday night. But it's also likely to leave fans deflated, with little wind in their sails.

Less a sequel than a nearreboot, On Stranger Tides jettisons not only most of the characters and subplots from the original trilogy, but also the digital creatures and gonzo fantasy that grew increasingly crazed under Gore Verbinski's direction.

Instead, in their attempt at a strippeddown sequel, the filmmakers  led by new director Rob Marshall (Chicago)  focus squarely on the reliably rakish Jack and a quest by various factions for the mythological Fountain of Youth.

Back for more  and, aside from Depp and Kevin McNally as Sparrow's first mate, the only leftover from the earlier films  Geoffrey Rush's scheming Barbossa is among those in the hunt for the fountain. Now a privateer, he's sent by King George II (Richard Griffiths) to beat Spanish forces to the ancient treasure.

Caught in the middle, naturally, is Sparrow, shanghaied by his exflame Angelica (Penelope Cruz) and forced to work for the tyrannical Blackbeard (Ian McShane).

Eventually  for reasons too absurd and complex to bother explaining here  their search leads them to mermaids, reimagined in the Piratesverse as gorgeous but fanged predators. The mermaids are a highlight, although the confrontation between Blackbeard's crew and the creatures  think Splash meets The Cove  may be too intense for young children. Frankly, I was more horrified at the superfluous, outofnowhere romance that develops between a captive mermaid (Astrid BergesFrisbey) and an earnest missionary (Sam Claflin).

Sounding congested? It certainly feels that way, despite the supposed streamlining. Say what you will about At World's End, but goofy, grotesque, demented incoherence, I can handle. Plodding exposition, purposeless sword fighting and paintbynumbers plotting? Not so much.

All of this said, On Stranger Tides is nonetheless likeable and benign enough to keep from running aground. For one, Sparrow's clockworkchoreographed escape early on in London is both rousing and risible. And Depp's alterego continues to be a welcome oneofakind creation, even if he's nowhere near as novel as he was in 2003 (and even if the hopedfor heat between him and Cruz never materializes).

As for the sequel's use of 3D, other than the odd sword being jabbed at you, it's inconsequential.

Of course, regardless of how On Stranger Tides is received, it's hard to imagine there won't be more Pirates films.

For the fifth one, Depp has joked they'll just shoot the actors on the theme park ride, going around in circles. Funny  I could swear that's the movie they just made.

Hollywood Couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie looking for on-screen reunion

Brad Pitt has revealed he wants to star alongside his long-term partner Angelina Jolie for a second time.

The Hollywood couple have already appeared together in 2005 movie Mr and Mrs Smith, where their relationship blossomed off-screen.

The 47-year-old American actor says he would like to appear opposite his actress girlfriend so that he can spend more time with her.

"We're not ones to repeat ourselves, but we'd like to, because right now, we're hopscotching with films so one can be with the kids and one's free to work," Brad told NPR. "And why aren't we doing them together? Why aren't we doing everything together?"

Brad and Angelina have six children together - Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Knox, and Vivienne. Brad has revealed he chooses film roles based on different criteria nowadays. The hunky star has revealed that he now takes his children into consideration before confirming any projects.
"I think my focus before was more irreverence, by nature," he said."I'm a dad now. It's more important to me that if I'm going to do the film, there's something I can bring to it, it's not generic. And most of all, I'm painfully aware that my kids are going to see these when they're older, and I want them to understand something about their dad, and I want them to be proud of their dad."