Hollywood Popular Artists

Jul 6th 2012, 21:16

Doesn't it feel like the internet is getting a little too obvious with its "Star Wars" mash-ups? Of course they're going to add lightsabers to "Game of Thrones"! Work harder, internet!

Also, Aaron Cross runs, and Santa Claus teams up with the Easter Bunny in today's Dailies!

» "The Rise of the Guardians" sounds like a movie we imagined when we were 4. We mean this in the best way possible. [YouTube]

» Joe Wright's 'Anna Karenina' gets a new, foreshadow-y poster. [Moviefone]

» The "Total Recall" remake now has a AR game online for you to explore and submit your Facebook information to. [Welcome to Rekall]

» Internet Math: Something popular + Lightsabers = Gold [Vulture]

» The official trailer for "The Loneliest Planet" is officially creepy. [/Film]

» The newest poster for "The Bourne Legacy" mixes it up a bit. This time, he's running. [ComingSoon.net]

Welcome to the Dailies, where the MTV Movies team runs down all the film and television news, odds and ends that are fit to print! From awesome fan art to obscure casting news, this is your place to feast on all the movie leftovers you didn't know you were hungry for.

Media files:
Game-of-Thrones-Lightsabers.jpg (image/jpeg)
Bourne-Legacy-Poster-2.jpg (image/jpeg)
Anna-Karenina-Poster-2.jpg (image/jpeg)
Game-of-Thrones-Lightsabers-70x53.jpg (image/jpeg)

Jul 6th 2012, 19:58

R&B phenom Frank Ocean of Odd Future and silver fox journalist Anderson Cooper came out this week, each in his own way but both to outpouring support from family, friends, and fans alike.

"I have given some the mistaken impression that I am trying to hide something," Anderson said in an open and very matter-of-fact email to journalist Andrew Sullivan, "This is distressing, because it is simply not true…The fact is, I'm gay, always have been, always will be, and I couldn't be any more happy, comfortable with myself, and proud."

Frank Ocean took to his Tumblr, where his coming out was exactly what one would expect from such a talented lyricist: a poetic letter about his first love -- a man. "4 summers ago, I met somebody. I was 19. He was too. We spent that summer, and the summer after, together. Everyday almost. And on the days we were together, time would glide," Frank said. "It was my first love. It changed my life."

While straight women everywhere are crying in their beds, nice messages keep coming Frank and Anderson's way. From Frank Ocean's mama to Neil Patrick Harris, here's what everyone's saying:

I'm proud of you, @AndersonCooper.

— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) July 2, 2012

"I'm proud of you," Ellen Degeneres Tweeted at Anderson Cooper.

Good for you, @AndersonCooper. You're awesome.tinyurl.com/chw8qyu

— Neil Patrick Harris (@ActuallyNPH) July 2, 2012

Neil Patrick Harris, who came out to the public back in '06, also Tweeted his support.

Very proud of @AndersonCooper. I recently shared an airplane ride with him and he smells of baby powder and sunshine. Well done sir.

— Johnny Weir-Voronov (@JohnnyGWeir) July 2, 2012

Figure skater Johnny Weir, who married his boyfriend in January, sent Cooper some love…and made us laugh.

My son is brave and honest and I am very proud of him. I wish more people in the world could be brave enough to be who they really are.

— katonya breaux riley (@katonya) July 4, 2012

Frank Ocean's mama has us teary-eyed.

Once a brave soul opens up life doesn't seem as hard as you thought it was. @frank_ocean inspirational.

— Rita Ora (@RitaOra) July 5, 2012

"Hot Right Now" songstress Rita Ora sent Frank this beautiful message.

Respect to @frank_ocean..In a culture that is so afraid of gay..he has transcended sexuality by artistry! Big announcement from a big talent

— Columbus Short (@ColumbusShort1) July 4, 2012

Actor Columbus Short gave his respect.

I salute you, brave soul.Independence Day. @frank_ocean

— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) July 4, 2012

On the 4^th of July, Solange Knowles Tweeted about Frank's true "Independence Day."

Both Anderson Cooper and Frank Ocean have kept their sexuality on the DL for a while. Cooper because he believes it is a journalist's duty to share other's lives before his own, and Ocean, perhaps, because homosexuality is not yet widely discussed or accepted in the Hip Hop world. We salute them both, and hope that their openness and the outpouring of support from their friends and family will give more people the courage to be who they are.

Ever wonder how you would handle a loved one or close friend coming out to you? Check out the tips from GLSEN, and other ways to take action below!

10 coming out tips for those on the receiving end:

1. It takes a lot of courage for someone to come out to you--listen to all they have to say without interrupting, judging, tuning out or buying into stereotypes about LGBT people.
2. Tell them how pleased you are that they trusted you enough to share something so personal and congratulate them on the bravery it took to be so honest.
3. Let them know that you feel the same way about them as you always have and that nothing has changed (except that you can be even closer than before).
4. Ask questions and show that you are interested in learning about their feelings and experiences. Be respectful and stay away from personal issues (sex, HIV, etc.) unless they let you know it's okay.
5. If you are feeling uncomfortable or upset, be honest. Let them know you may need some time to process everything, but acknowledge that it is your problem to work out and not their responsibility.
6. Remember that you cannot and should not try to change them--you have an opportunity here to support, not to reform them.
7. Ask what you can do to support them or what they need from you right now.
8. Follow up. The coming out conversation should be the first of many. Continue to check in and ask questions over time.
9. Be open to socializing with their new friends and in a variety of settings, both LGBT and straight. Let them know that they don't have to compartmentalize their lives.
10. Be an advocate. Read up on LGBT issues, wear an LGBT-friendly button or sticker, join a GSA or other LGBT group, and confront homophobia in whatever ways you can.

The Trevor Project's trained counselors are here to support you 24/7. If you are a young person who in need of a safe and judgment-free place to talk, call The Trevor Lifeline at 866-488-7386. It's free and confidential.

Media files:
CooperOcean-Feature.jpg (image/jpeg)
CooperOcean-Post.jpg (image/jpeg)
CooperOcean-Feature-70x53.jpg (image/jpeg)

Jul 6th 2012, 20:00

If you're a child of the '80s and '90s and are asked what your favorite campy Halloween movie is, your answer will likely be "Hocus Pocus." The film followed three witches from the Salem witch trial days who sold their souls to the devil in order to stay beautiful forever. Pretty light stuff, right? But the movie managed to combine silliness with comedy in the way only '90s movies could, and ended up being one of the most beloved cult classics of that time.

Based on the fact that the movie is replayed every year around Halloween on the Disney Channel, it's fair to assume that the studio is a fan of "Hocus Pocus's" continued popularity as well. That's why it shouldn't come as a surprise (even though it does) that a new report from the folks over at Moviehole says that a sequel called "Hocus Pocus 2: Rise of the Elderwitch" is on the way.

Since it's been almost two decades since "Hocus Pocus" first hit theaters, it seems safe to assume that none of the movie's original stars will return to this project. After all, three witches played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Majimy don't have quite as much impact as they used to. Moviehole hears that "Rise of the Elderwitch" will focus on "a new cackling evildoer whose been unfortunately let loose again on suburban America." Is it safe to assume that she's the titular Elderwitch?

Rumor has it that the sequel is still in its early development stages, and we're sort of hoping it stays there. "Hocus Pocus" works because of its frivolity, campiness and obviously fake sets, and nothing that could come out of our CGI-heavy movie culture could quite recreate that. There was a certain naivety present in movies from the '90s that isn't around anymore, and we aren't really interested in a gritty reboot of the classic storyline like every other remake is nowadays.

What do you think of this planned sequel? Tell us in the comments section below or on Twitter!

Media files:
hocus-pocus-1993-07-g.jpeg (image/jpeg)
hocus-pocus-1993-07-g-70x53.jpg (image/jpeg)

Jul 6th 2012, 18:56

The 12-day old wildfire that spread across Colorado and Utah destroyed neighborhoods, forcing 35,000 people out of their homes at its height.

Lightning strikes in southeastern Montana started fires that have burned 300,432 acres so far -- one of the nation's current largest blazes. But, just as Obama said, these trying times are bringing Americans together. People nationwide are working to bring in donations, and provide meals and shelter to those in need. Tryna join in on the effort? Samesies.

+ Help out the Red Cross.

The Red Cross has h-core helped the situation, opening 13 shelters in Colorado, Utah and Montana for displaced residents. The life-changing org has also provided Colorado residents with more than 33,000 meals and snacks, 3,600 health and mental health contacts, and 4,900 relief essentials.  To help the Red Cross, you can:

+ Donate: online to provide relief and support to those in need. Or text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

+ Volunteer: to drive people to and from medical appointments, transfer supplies, or help support other relief operations.

+ Text to Save the Children.

Save the Children has partnered with local communities in Colorado, Montana and beyond to help the most vulnerable affected group: children. This org is providing supplies (think strollers, cribs, diapers, etc.) for families, as well as resources for emotional recovery programs for kids. To help Save the Children, you can text the word WILDFIRE to 20222 to give $10 to Save the Children's relief efforts or donate online.

+ Buy some Wild Fire Tees:

These tees are SO COOL. All shirts are $20, with 100 percent of profits directly benefiting the Colorado wildfire victims. Some shirts induce serious chills with phrases like "Out of the ashes we will rise", while others make you lol, dropping lines like "Let's See Your Best Rain Dance" or "More Disco, Less Inferno".  You can even choose to donate a shirt to a firefighter! Your money will go straight to Colorado Red Cross or Care and Share Food Bank AND you'll look reals trendy. I'll take four, por favor.

Oh, also, the people running this thing are unreal. They're all Colorado based designers or business owners with full time jobs dedicating any ounce of free time to this non-profit project.

#Inspiring.

Media files:
Colorado-Feature.jpg (image/jpeg)
Colorado-Post.jpg (image/jpeg)
Colorado-Feature-70x53.jpg (image/jpeg)

Jul 6th 2012, 19:00

An odd holiday release schedule broke this week's programming into three different openings for three different movies, but as we head into the weekend, MTV Movies Blog has your movie pairings for everything that came out this week.

Read on for this week's Double Feature Friday!

"The Amazing Spider-Man" & "(500) Days of Summer"
These two films don't play well together simply because Marc Webb directed both of them. The shared quality does, however, explain the more important aspect that they share. I wrote about it briefly in my review of "The Amazing Spider-Man," but Webb's only two feature films contain two of the most emotionally honest and unabashedly cute movie romances of the last few years. Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone's on-screen chemistry will definitely stir up any left over feelings you may have for the days when Joseph Gordon-Levitt's Tom and Zooey Deschanel's Summer first met.

"Savages" & "Band of Outsiders"
Blake Lively, Taylor Kitsch, and Aaron Johnson are far from the first cinematic ménage à trois to turn to violence. Jean-Luc Godard made that cool all the way back in 1964 with "Bande à part." The movie follows two buddy criminals who fall for the same girl. Jealousies come to a head while the trio plans to rob the young lady's own house. The French New Wave film became a huge influence on later generations of filmmakers, including Quentin Tarantino, who named his production company after Godard's movie.

"Katy Perry: Part of Me" & "The Last Waltz"
There are few concert films as essential as Martin Scorsese's documentary about The Band's final performance. Not only did "The Last Waltz" revolutionize the way filmmakers capture concerts, but the show's line-up alone merits at least one viewing. Where else are you going to see the original line-up for The Band, Bob Dylan, Neils Young and Diamond all together on one stage?

What are you watching this weekend? Let us know in the comments below and on Twitter!

If one movie is never enough for you and you're looking for a flick to get you in the mood for this week's new release, Double Feature Friday is here to help. Every week we break down the new releases and pair them with older movies that you should catch before heading out to the theater. Or just skip the new movie and check out the classic we recommend.

Media files:
500-Days-of-Spider-Man.jpg (image/jpeg)
500-Days-of-Spider-Man-70x53.jpg (image/jpeg)

Jul 6th 2012, 18:27

Forget Tobacco wants you to go in the direction of never using tobacco, so it decided to offer free One Direction concert tickets to help get people inspired.

Peeps between the ages of thirteen and twenty-four were asked to share short vids on why they want to "Forget Tobacco and LIVE!" and the winners have been announced!

Five videos won (one per week), and that means the people who made them are all going to see One Direction in concert! Of course we're totally envious, but we also wanted to showcase the cool videos that won so you can see what these strong-willed young people put together. Roll 'em!

The first vid, from Michelle and Jessah, has a catchy "Forget Tobacco" song the girls wrote.

In the next vid, Amanda made her own little comic book on notebook paper to talk about why she's tobacco-free.

Siobhain, who gave us our third winning vid, wants to be a doctor and interviewed people at her school on what they think about smoking. Check out the different opinions!

Irsa gave us a few different things in her vid: fast facts, humor, and the argument that it's more fun to be a fangirl than smoke. Hmm, hard to argue with that.

Last, but certainly not least, is our fifth winner: a music video from Lauren and Erin that shows all kinds of fun stuff you can be doing instead of smoking. Nice flowers, ladies!

Maybe the winners can also share their visions with One Direction's Zayn. We know that Forget Tobacco's trying to challenge the singer to give up his smoking habit, so maybe his fans can give him some support to help kick the addiction.

Media files:
DontSmoke3up-Feature1.jpg (image/jpeg)
DontSmoke3up-Post1.jpg (image/jpeg)
DontSmoke3up-Feature.jpg (image/jpeg)
DontSmoke3up-Post.jpg (image/jpeg)
DontSmoke3up-Feature1-70x53.jpg (image/jpeg)

Jul 6th 2012, 18:20

By Zachary Swickey

We're not the only ones excited about the new No Doubt record (their first in 11 years) – Lady Gaga reveals that she is "freaking out" about the new album.

Gwent Stefani and Co. are currently putting the finishing touches on their upcoming sixth studio album, Push and Shove, which is bound to fly off shelves just like No Doubt's last effort, '01's Rocksteady.

Lady Gaga hit up her Twitter account today (July 6) to reveal her excitement about the upcoming effort, writing, "Is anyone else freaking out about No Doubt putting out a new album. I can't wait!"

Gaga will get her first taste of some new ND material soon enough; the band releases their new single, "Settle Down," on July 16. No Doubt has already wrapped the track's video and recently posted a behind-the-scenes making-of featurette (below), which sadly doesn't give us even a tease of the new song and is set to their hit "Underneath it All," on their Facebook page.

No Doubt will perform the live debut of "Settle Down" July 22 at Nickelodeon's Teen Choice Awards, which will be the band's first official performance since their reunion tour back in '09. They're also set for appearances on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" on July 26 and a "Good Morning America" on July 27.

Push and Shove is largely produced by Mike "Spike" Stent (Madonna, Lady Gaga, U2), but ND also hooked up with Diplo and Switch (collectively known as Major Lazer), who contributed to the album's title track.

Media files:
lady-g-no-doubt.jpg (image/jpeg)
lady-g-no-doubt-70x53.jpg (image/jpeg)

Jul 6th 2012, 18:00

Comic-Con 2012 is rapidly approaching, and you know what that means: wish lists! Everyone on the MTV Movies team is pumped for a whole host of panels and events this year, but if I'm being honest, it's not the big screen that has me most excited. I'm keeping my eye firmly on the television panels, where "Fringe" will have its last-ever Comic-Con presence; "Game of Thrones" will tease us for season three in all of its gut-wrenching glory; and, if we're all good little boys and girls, we'll get a taste of the sweet blue stuff that is "Breaking Bad." (If that panel shows even an iota of the season five premiere's cold open, I guarantee that people will go up in smoke quicker than Tuco Salamanca's drug den.)

But that's just what I'm looking forward to at Comic-Con this year. Keep reading to find out what all of our friends in the blogosphere can't wait for!

» Katey Rich is the Editor-in-Chief of Cinema Blend, and she and her mighty team of five are excited to be covering Comic Con with more man (and woman) power than ever before. More than anything Katey is excited to catch the panel for Neill Blomkamp's Elysium, because it's something she knows the least about, and therefore has the most potential to be an awesome surprise.

» Kristal Bailey returns to Comic Con for the 7th time and couldn't be more excited! Each year provides new surprises, big news and this looks to be like no exception. She and Brian Rudloff, the amazing duo from Screen Invasion, are most looking forward to the Community panel and the rest of the TV slate coming to SD. With The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, and True Blood all having major panels, geek TV is going strong. The movie front is shaping up nicely too, with highlights including Iron Man 3, Dredd, and Pacific Rim.

» Jim Littler from ComicBookMovie.com had it easy when picking out his highlights, saying, "It's a no-brainer what we'll be interested in seeing at Comic-Con this year… All the Comic Book Movie oriented panels--with a particular interest in Disney's/Marvel's IRON MAN 3 and THOR 2 offerings, as well as MAN OF STEEL?!! Plus, a personal favorite is THE VENTURE BROS."

» Rob Keyes from Screen Rant is anxious to see the year's two biggest panels happening on Saturday in Hall H where we all hope to get our first real look at Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim and Zack Snyder's Man of Steel. Those two films combined with The Hobbit and a potential presentation about Godzilla make that the panel to be at. On the Disney/Marvel side, the Iron Man 3 presentation also has a chance to steal the show if President Kevin Feige comes prepared to lay down major announcements regarding "Phase 2" of the Marvel cinematic universe. Bring us some Ant-Man, Black Panther and Guardians of the Galaxy!

» Matt Patches at Hollywood.com can't decide if he's more excited for Sony's Elysium panel or Nickelodeon's The Legend of Korra panel. He's been waiting patiently for any look at director Neill Blomkamp's long-awaited District 9 follow-up that's not bald Matt Damon standing around on set, and really, who doesn't want a taste of epic sci-fi at Comic-Con? But going cold turkey on Legend of Korra post-season one finale…well, the panel may be the fix he needs to survive.

» This year at SDCC, the io9 team is excited to see that fantasy is pretty much ruling the con. With The Hobbit coming up, and Game of Thrones still going strong, there's no doubt that this is the year of foam swords and armor in San Diego. We're psyched for the original science fiction too -- we'll be checking out Guillermo Del Toro's giant monsters in Pacific Rim, getting the latest on the superintelligent computer in Person of Interest, and visiting a post-apocalyptic world with no computers at all with Eric Kripke's new series Revolution. We'll be covering everything from comics and movies, to books and TV, so keep your eyes on io9 at SDCC 2012!

» Kevin Polowy, NextMovie and Film.com editor and resident DJ, is eager to trek to 2012 Comic-Con to see how Martin Freeman and friends measure up to Hobbits past (get it? Short joke), hear how many times Quentin Tarantino uses the word "awesome" over the course of the one-hour "Django Unchained" panel (over/under: 16), and once again gorge on those disgustingly delicious Mexican eggrolls at that one place on 1st Ave (Mexican eggrolls!).

» ComingSoon.net and SuperHeroHype's Edward Douglas is looking forward to the entire Warner Bros. panel, since we've seen absolutely nothing from Zack Snyder's Man of Steel and very little from Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim, two of what should be the coolest movies of next summer. Likewise, the Marvel panel is always hopping and even though they've only been shooting a few weeks on Iron Man 3, they rarely disappoint and I expect them to show some cool stuff from the movie, much like they did with Captain America two years ago. Oh, and we'll finally get confirmation on that May 2014 movie so we can all stop guessing and making stuff up. Also looking forward to talking to lots of filmmakers/actors since interviewing is my schtick at Comic-Con.

» The ScreenCrush.com team is excited to see footage from 'Man of Steel' and 'Iron Man 3' for sure, but the one panel we won't miss is for 'Django Unchained.' Watching Quentin Tarantino work the Hall H crowd will be worth the price of admission alone! And maybe he'll bring some special guests along with him...

» Alex Billington also returns to cover Comic-Con 2012 at FirstShowing.net. Alex is looking forward to the panels on Saturday the most, specifically Warner Bros' panel for The Hobbit and Zack Snyder's Man of Steel. There's also Quentin Tarantino bringing Django Unchained on Saturday, which should be very fun. He's mostly excited to see how the Hall H crowds react to these presentations, and hear the responses after.

» This year, the Film School Rejects will be hiding in the bathroom stalls so that we can be the first in Hall H to check out everything from Frankenweenie to the Batmobile. We'll be ironically wearing Team Bella t-shirts (except for Brian) as we bring news from Jackie Chan's production company, ParaNorman, Disney, Game of Thrones, Disney's Game of Thrones and the science fiction of Total Recall and Looper. While Fure rubs his own chest to the Expendables 2 footage (and reports back), Brian will be writing about his experiences as a first-timer, and we'll collectively make sure that you, dear reader, feel like you are at the Con yourself. Dressing up like your favorite comic book character is on you though. We can't be held responsible for clothing you.

» Don Kaye, lead writer at MSN's Parallel Universe, is split between two things that he wants to see the most: "On the one hand, I am really looking forward to the Warner Bros./Legendary Pictures panel, because I can't wait to get a first look at footage from Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim and Zack Snyder's Man of Steel. Both have been shrouded in mystery until now. We're apparently also going to get a peek at Legendary's take on Godzilla. But at the same time, I am super-excited about seeing the Sony presentation on Elysium. I loved District 9 and can't wait to see what Neill Blomkamp has done for his follow-up. If anyone can come up with the big sci-fi movie with big ideas (the one we didn't get this year), it might be him."

» This year the gang at Movies.com is planning to load up their Comic-Con page with as many interviews, panel reports, footage reviews, podcasts, and, most importantly, costume galleries as biologically possible. It'll be like you're at comic-con, minus the huge crowds and Slave Leia dance contests.

» Matt Goldberg is going to be at Comic-Con covering Hall H for Collider.com. "I'm jazzed to see Django Unchained and Iron Man 3, but not so much because of the footage since that will all be released in due time. I'm more excited to see Quentin Tarantino and Robert Downey Jr. since big personalities on the Hall H stage always makes for a good time," he says. He adds he's "also eager to see what surprises various presentations may have in store."

What are you looking forward to at Comic-Con this year? Leave your wish list in the comments section below or hit us up on Twitter!

Media files:
got_comic_con.jpg (image/jpeg)
got_comic_con-70x53.jpg (image/jpeg)

Jul 6th 2012, 16:47

Singers Tweet about their new vids all the time, but the official lyric video for Nelly Furtado's "Spirit Indestructible" isn't your run-of-the-mill vid.

Sure, it shows you the lyrics, but it also shows Spencer West, a man who has no legs, climb to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro just using his hands. Nelly Tweeted this, and you know she wants us to share it not just because it's her new vid, but because she's as inspired as the rest of us to see Spencer work:

This is the most excited I've ever been to share something with you all!Pls share with everyone! #SpiritIndestructible bit.ly/SInelly

— Nelly Furtado (@NellyFurtado) July 5, 2012

While Nelly sings words like, "I've got chains on my feet/But not in my mind" we watch Spencer, whose legs were amputated when he was five, make his way up Kilimanjaro until he reaches the very top. Spencer wanted to show people you can "redefine possible," and he's very much involved with the group Free the Children, which "believes in a world where all young people are free to achieve their fullest potential as agents of change."

But Spencer didn't just make that amazing climb to get people rethinking what they can and can't do. He also had a very practical purpose -- raising money for Free the Children's sustainable water initiative.

Spencer was thrilled to be part of Nelly's lyric video, saying, "Spirit Indestructible is amazing and has such a powerful message. I am extremely humbled to be featured along side of such a inspirational song."

I'd say it goes both ways. Many of us are beyond humbled watching Spencer's incredible physical feat, plus his incredible spirit indestructible!

+ WATCH: Nelly Furtado "Spirit Indestructible" Lyric Video

Media files:
FurtadoWest-Feature.jpg (image/jpeg)
FurtadoWest-Post.jpg (image/jpeg)
FurtadoWest-Feature-70x53.jpg (image/jpeg)

Jul 6th 2012, 17:03

By Zachary Swickey

Big surprise here! Due to overwhelming demand, Justin Bieber has extended his U.K. tour to accommodate all the screaming fans who didn't manage to snag tickets to his highly anticipated roadshow.

The Canuck wonder's U.K. tour kicks off February 19, 2013, in Manchester before concluding in London on March 7. While the tour's Sheffield date had to be pulled due to unnoticed scheduling conflicts, more dates across the U.K. have been added, according to Ticketmaster. A new performance has been announced for Birmingham's NIA, which will take place February 28, and two dates have been added to his run at London's O2 Arena, on March 5 and March 7, respectively.

Tickets for the U.S. leg of Bieber's tour are in equally high-in-demand, as his entire stateside run sold-out in less than one hour – an amazingly rare feat – according to his manager, Scooter Braun.

The demand isn't surprising, given the fact that Beiber's Believe album recently debuted to the strongest first-week numbers of any album so far this year. Nothing can stop the Bieber train!

Check out his full U.K. tour itinerary below.

Justin Bieber 2013 UK Tour Dates:
2/19 – Manchester Arena, Manchester
2/23 – Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield
2/24 – Echo Arena, Liverpool
2/27 – NIA, Birmingham
2/28 – NIA, Birmingham
3/02 – Capital FM Arena, Nottingham
3/04 – The O2, London
3/05 – The O2, London
3/07 – The O2, London

Media files:
Bieber-Tour.jpg (image/jpeg)
Bieber-Tour-70x53.jpg (image/jpeg)

Jul 6th 2012, 17:02

Tom Cruise might be down on his luck in love, but at least he's doing pretty well for himself in the money department.

Forbes has put out their annual list of the highest paid actors in Hollywood and, considering the year he's had, it's unsurprising that Cruise is on top. Between the great success of "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" and his recent paycheck for Joseph Kosinski's "Oblivion," Cruise made a whopping $75 million over the past 12 months.

That puts him far ahead of the rest of the pack. Leonardo DiCaprio and Adam Sandler tied for second place, each making $37 million this past year. DiCaprio managed to eek out quite a few dollars for his upcoming film slate, which includes "The Great Gatsby," "Django Unchained" and "The Wolf of Wall Street." Meanwhile, Sandler released quite a few critical flops that were box office successes like "Jack and Jill" and "Grown Ups," and can still walk away from this and call it a successful year.

Rounding out the top five are Dwayne Johnson with a well-deserved $36 million and Ben Stiller with $33 million. Johnson helped boost the box office intakes of established franchises like "The Fast and the Furious" and "Journey to the Center of the Earth," and is front-and-center in the new "G.I. Joe" movie. Meanwhile, Stiller continues to make the big bucks from his cash cow series' like "Meet the Parents" and "Madagascar," as well as new films like "Tower Heist" and "The Watch."

Finishing up the list are Sacha Baron Cohen, Johnny Depp and Will Smith with $30 million a piece, Mark Wahlberg with $27 million and Taylor Lautner and Robert Pattinson with $26.5 million.

Are you surprised that any of these men are on this list? Tell us in the comments secion below or on Twitter!

Media files:
01_tom_cruise.jpeg (image/jpeg)
01_tom_cruise-70x53.jpg (image/jpeg)

Jul 6th 2012, 16:30

America is heating on up! All across the US we are seeing a major heatwave that even First Lady Michelle Obama is trying to stay out of!

With the heatwave comes the zap in motivation, but we (as is FLOTUS) are here to throw cold water some inspiration on you and get outta that house to give back. It is easy to stay indoors but we have compiled a fun list of ways for you to make a difference, even on these scorching summer days! Have you seen the forecasted temps for tomorrow?!

5 ways to stay out of the heatwave:

+ DC is one area that has been hit BIG time by this attack of the sun -- it's forecast to be in the 100s! Mrs. Obama took the initiative to do something while staying cool, promoting the arts and making arts and crafts with local youth. "The arts and crafts table makes a good getaway from the summer heat," she shared on her Facebook page. Know of a local community center in your area? Reach out to them and see if you can volunteer to help kids craft!

+ The 4th of July fireworks often scare many pets away from home. With so many animals running away what better way to help a local animal shelter with more animals to care of than usual. If you lost an animal during the firework madness you can always visit local shelters, or petfinder!

+ On a blazing hot day it is the perfect time to head to your local library. While here you can get caught up on your latest books or even research for your future career path. Embrace your inner book nerd! We don't judge. Smart is sexy!

+ Not into the library idea? Well, then what about heading off to a local museum!? Love a good museum filled with ancient art and dinosaurs!

+ Still not wanting to leave your house? I get it, the heat can be quite intense. Here are two ideas if you are like me and would rather stay in your own home. Grab a piece of paper and write to an American soldier! A perfect afternoon activity that will help bring a smile to a soldier abroad. Now, this next one is a treasure hunt -- in your sofa! Try and find change left around your house and donate it to a fun cause!

So hopefully these ideas will help brainstorm some ways to give back during the heatwave! Stay cool, stay hydrated, and be safe.

Media files:
MichelleHeatwave-Feature.jpg (image/jpeg)
MichelleHeatwave-Post.jpg (image/jpeg)
MichelleHeatwave-Feature-70x53.jpg (image/jpeg)

Jul 6th 2012, 16:02

By Meredith Goldberg-Morse

As the first half of 2012 comes to a close (take a moment to let that sink in), Adele's 21 and Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know" reign supreme as the biggest selling album and digital song in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan (via Billboard). This should come as no surprise, given the ongoing ubiquity of Adele's soul-baring album and Gotye's can't-get-it-out-of-your-head refrain.

This marks the second time 21 has topped the charts in the first half of the year—and at this rate, it could be the only full-year top-seller two-peat in SoundScan history. If Adele's chart-busting pattern continues, her baby could be born into an untouchable musical monarchy. Lucky kid.

While no album can touch the success of 21 check out the ones that came closest:

2. Lionel Richie, "Tuskegee"
With 912,000 albums sold, Lionel Richie's Tuskegee was his first #1 on the Billboard 200 since his 1986 hit Dancing on the Ceiling.

3. One Direction, Up All Night
The British boy band is first U.K. group to hit # 1 with a debut album, selling 899,000 records in the first half of 2012.

4. Whitney Houston, Whitney: The Greatest Hits
The diva posthumously spent three weeks at # 2 on the charts after her death on February 11, selling 818,000 records.

5. Various Artists, Now 41
Yes, they're still making these. And apparently 714,000 people purchased one this year.

Following Gotye as the top-selling download song so far:

2. fun., "We Are Young" (featuring Janelle Monae)
This musical celebration of youth is the only other song to surpass 5 million purchases this year, with 5.09 million.

3. Carly Rae Jepsen, "Call Me Maybe"
The song that spawned a million and one YouTube parodies is in its fourth week at # 1 on the Hot 100 and clocks in with 4.06 million in sales at the mid-year mark.

4. Kelly Clarkson, "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)"
Clarkson's motivational tune is still going strong with 3.32 million sales in the first half of the year and is the top-selling song ever for an "American Idol" alum.

5. Nicki Minaj, "Starships"
Nicki rounds out the top five (and monopolizes our radios) with 3.16 year to date sales.

Do you think any albums from this year will be able to stop Adele's "21" from becoming the first two-year top-seller in history? Let us know in the comments below!

Media files:
Adele.jpg (image/jpeg)
Adele-70x53.jpg (image/jpeg)

Jul 6th 2012, 16:00

"Your mother and I are about to be taken."

Those are likely the last words that Kim Mills (Maggie Grace) ever wanted to hear again, but they're the ones we've been desperate for ever since "Taken" hit theaters in 2008. Now Liam Neeson is back for more as Bryan Mills, and this time he's the one who's getting kidnapped. A new international trailer for "Taken 2" has hit the web (via ComingSoon.net), and has got us counting down the days until October 5.

What's interesting about "Taken 2" is the fact that it's premise makes a lot of sense for the film franchise, and that it's villains are justified. Bryan killed a whole lot of people in "Taken," so it makes sense that their families would want revenge the same way he did in the first film. Granted, those men he killed ran prostitution rings and sold women like cattle, but they were still people (we guess).

The marketing campaign for "Taken 2" is very self-aware and that seems like it will bode well for the finished product. Neeson elevates this film to being so much cooler than it would be otherwise, and everything we've seen for this movie has played off that idea. We love the opening sequence with the happy, family-oriented music that quickly shifts to a more foreboding score. This is not your typical family vacation movie. In fact, "Taken 2" could make you never want to leave the country again.

"Taken 2" spins the franchise's premise on its head when its up to Kim to help her father and mother escape from the Albanian kidnappers who captured them. And of course those criminals are sort of right to seek revenge, as they're the parents of the many men Bryan Mills brutally murdered for kidnapping his daughter in the first "Taken." It seems as though much car-flipping, gun-shooting and building-jumping will ensue.

Are you looking forward to "Taken 2" as much as we are? Tell us in the comments section below or on Twitter!

Media files:
Taken-2-Poster-Banner-70x53.jpg (image/jpeg)