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Thursday, May 3, 2012

[Smells Like News] New 'Amazing Spider-Man' Trailer: Five Key Scenes

We take a closer look at the latest action-packed sneak peek.
By Kara Warner

Andrew Garfield in "The Amazing Spider-Man"
Photo: Columbia Pictures

Holy web-slingers, Spidey fans: Another trailer for "The Amazing Spider-Man" has arrived!

While there are several familiar scenes from the first two epic teasers weaved into this exciting new two-and-a-half minutes, director Marc Webb has introduced a bunch of intriguing new elements into the new footage.

Here are five key scenes from the latest trailer:

Lonely Boy
Webb told us previously that the fact that Peter Parker is an orphan will play heavily into the story of this film, which is very much exemplified by the multiple "lonely boy" shots of Parker standing atop various buildings or walking by himself through the city streets with a forlorn look on his face. Not to mention Andrew Garfield's voice-over: "This life is not an easy one. I've made enemies, powerful enemies. I've put people I love in danger, but the one thing that has haunted me my entire life is finding the truth about my parents ... "

"I think there's a real emotional consequence to someone who's left by their parents when they're 7 or 8 years old," Webb has said. "And that contributes to sort of this trickster, chip-on-his-shoulder attitude."

Other Mischief May Come
Speaking of Parker's trickster side, we get another glimpse of his comedic and sarcastic sensibilities during his encounter with a carjacker, as shown in the previous trailer. What's new and fun this time around is Parker taunting the guy: "You found my weakness!" Parker says to the carjacker sarcastically. "It's small knives!"

The other intriguing and very possibly mischievous element in play here is the quick shot we see of Parker looking up at the impossibly tall and menacing Oscorp skyscraper. Yes, we know Parker is interested in the building because of its ties to his father and that Oscorp ID card he holds onto, but we can't help but feel a little bit of foreshadowing is at play in knowing what plays out with one Norman Osborn.

Lizard in a Lab Coat
Behold, the recently transformed, very dangerous-looking Lizard crumpled on the floor and bursting out of his lab coat — or the lab coat of his former self, Dr. Curt Connors (played by Rhys Ifans). We've seen some very quick shots of the film's central villain before, but this trailer offers us multiple glimpses at the before-and-after of Dr. Connors. And he is not at all a nice guy in his hulking green lizardy form ("Avengers" pun un-intended). We see the Lizard hurling innocent people around and later in heated pursuit of our heroic web-slinger.

Mystery Man With Intel
Speaking of the pre-reptilian Dr. Connors, there is a very brief, but intriguing interrogation-like scene in the trailer between Connors and an unidentified older gentleman. The gentleman looks to have long-ish white hair and is shown in a sort of shadowy silhouette asking the good doctor a very pointed question about Peter Parker and his parents. "Did you tell the boy about his father?" he says to Connors. We don't get to hear the Doc's response during this brief exchange, but the worried-but-stubborn look on Connors' face says the man is definitely withholding some key information that will undoubtedly prove to be of major importance to Parker down the line.

Action, Action and More Action
And just like all great superheroic trailers before it, Webb spends the last minute or so of his new trailer impressing us with tons of action. We see Parker-as-Spider-Man's extraordinary athleticism in some scenes of good old-fashioned chasery: He dodges police officers, carjackers and the Lizard, not to mention one impressive feat wherein he appears to be holding a burning car from plunging into a river — which, by the way, totally reminds us of a scene from Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man," whether that was intended or not; we'll have to see the finished film to decide. There is also more demonstration of Spidey's fancy web-slingers as he masters his skills with swinging from building to building and stealthily sliding into rooms upside down.

Check out everything we've got on "The Amazing Spider-Man."

For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.

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'The Amazing Spider-Man' Trailer 2: Five Key Scenes

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Posted By sysop to Smells Like News at 5/03/2012 06:07:00 PM

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[Smells Like News] Junior Seau Suicide Renews NFL Concussion Debate

Junior Seau's grieving family does NOT believe the former football great's death was related to on-field concussions he sustained as a player, but his suicide has nevertheless renewed an ongoing debate over the NFL and brain injuries.

Police found Junior Seau dead yesterday at his San Diego County home.

Seau family sources tell say the death shocked them even more than it did his many fans, as Junior never complained about concussion-related medical problems, nor did he mention or appear to be suffering from depression.

Seau never spoke, allegedly, about the ongoing legal dispute between the NFL and retired players who claim the league concealed critical information about long-term effects of concussions over the past few decades.

Junior's apparent suicide, from a gunshot wound to the chest, instantly drew comparisons to the death of former Chicago Bears safety Dave Duerson.

Duerson left a suicide note explaining he shot himself in the chest because he wanted his brain to be sent to the "NFL brain bank" for further study.

The family is unsure why Junior wanted to kill himself, but feel there isn't necessarily a link to concussions and Duerson comparisons are premature.

Neurosurgeon Julian Bailes, longtime researcher into brain damage from concussions, responded with grief and medical questions about what toll Junior's lengthy football career (20 seasons) might have taken on the 43-year-old.

"As both a football fan and a researcher, the news comes with great sadness first of all for such a great player. But I think we have to add him to the list of those that we worry about who could have effects of chronic, repetitive brain trauma," said Bailes.

The chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery at the NorthShore University HealthSystem in Chicago added, "We don't have any strong evidence (yet about Seau), and we know that people commit suicide for other reasons. … But to me it's also concerning due to the fact that he had such a long playing history."

"The emerging research is perhaps pointing to the amount of exposure to repetitive head contacts being like a dose response. … The more you're exposed to sun light; you get a higher chance of skin cancer. … The more CAT Scans you have; you are exposed to radiation and perhaps side effects."

[Photo: WENN.com]

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Posted By sysop to Smells Like News at 5/03/2012 05:15:00 PM

[Smells Like News] Robert Pattinson Charting Familiar Path With Post-'Twilight' Roles

With two small films in the works, the heartthrob proves he's planning a future beyond the franchise that made him, experts tell MTV News.
By John Mitchell

Robert Pattinson and Tom Cruise
Photo: Getty Images

Robert Pattinson knows that the shelf life of a Hollywood heartthrob is short. Teen dreams have a tendency to come and go with shocking regularity, which is why the actor is intent to do everything he can to break out of the mold.

The success of the "The Twilight Saga" has alternately put Pattinson in the best and worst position an actor can have in the business. He's become a superstar on the back of a franchise, but since he was a relative unknown when cast, it also defines his career up to this point. We know him for that role — and not much else.

Of course, Pattinson is aiming to change that with a series of upcoming roles, including the just-announced "Mission: Blacklist," a "gripping, edge-of-your-seat thriller" about a military interrogator that played a key role in the 2003 capture of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. On Thursday (May 3), Deadline also reported that Pattinson has been added to "The Rover." As Reynolds in the David Michod film, he'll pursue the men responsible for stealing his car all across "the rough Australian outback."

"What Robert Pattinson is doing isn't new in the slightest," Greg Ellwood of HitFix told MTV News. "Ever since the American indie scene exploded in the early '90s, actors such as John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, George Clooney, Gwyneth Paltrow, Christian Bale, Ewan McGregor and John Cusack, among others, have jumped between indie and studio-produced films."

Indeed, it's a well-tread path, and the actor is following it closely with several films in the can that he hopes will establish him as a leading man outside of the "Twilight" franchise.

In "Bel Ami," RPattz plays a young man navigating the tricky social hierarchy of late-19th-century Paris by manipulating the city's most influential and wealthy women. And as "ER" star Clooney did with Steven Soderbergh ("Out of Sight," "Ocean's 11"), when he was trying to break away from his TV persona, Pattinson has smartly aligned himself with an acclaimed filmmaker, David Cronenberg ("Eastern Promises," "A History of Violence"), for the futuristic indie thriller "Cosmopolis," which will make its world premiere in competition later this month at the Cannes Film Festival.

All of these roles are a major departure from Edward Cullen, and while that's a risk, the films have relatively low budgets, letting producers and financers gradually test whether Pattinson is a bankable movie star — and a strong leading actor — outside of the franchise that has defined his career to this point. Pattinson isn't, as they say, putting all his eggs in one basket.

"What makes Pattinson different is his huge core fanbase so early in his career," Ellwood continued. "Yet, he's still not a household name outside of the 'Twilight' fanbase or movie fans under the age of 30."

Contrast that with Jennifer Lawrence, who already had an Oscar nomination for "Winter's Bone" and a box-office hit in "X Men: First Class" under her belt before conquering screens as Katniss Everdeen in "The Hunger Games." The role has made Lawrence a household name, but unlike Pattinson, her abilities as an actress and future as a performer were not really in question before she entered the arena. Indeed, many critics noted the film was made all the better by having a proven actress in the lead role.

As Pattinson transitions from "Twilight," he has something to prove. So far, he has wisely steered clear of big-budget fare, a mistake his "Twilight" co-star Taylor Lautner made only to see his first star vehicle, "Abduction," misfire at the box office, calling into question whether the teen star can carry a movie.

Pattinson has so far headlined two non-"Twilight" features: "Remember Me" and "Water for Elephants." And while "Remember Me" grossed only $19 million domestically, it cost only $16 million to make, so once international grosses ($37 million) were accounted for, it was easily in the black (if not the hit he was likely hoping for). "Water for Elephants" fared better, but co-star Reese Witherspoon also gets credit for its $117 million combined worldwide gross.

"Starring in films like 'Water for Elephants' opposite Reese Witherspoon helps, but he's going to need to mix up another big hit or two outside of 'Twilight' to reach the [Leonardo] DiCaprio or [Brad] Pitt level," Ellwood says. "You could argue that Kristen Stewart is further down that road. Especially after the expected blockbuster 'Snow White and the Huntsman' opens in June."

Pattinson's post-"Twilight" choices show a performer who wants to be taken seriously as a versatile actor without risking a major financial failure. He seems keen to line up as much quality work as he can before the franchise ends and he jumps off the proverbial cliff and into the unknown. Whether he can pull it off remains to be seen, but his choices at least prove that he's interested in being more than a movie star. Like all those other stars who took the indie-film leap in the '90s, Pattinson wants you to think of him as an actor first and a global celebrity second.

How do you think RPattz will do in roles beyond Edward Cullen? Tell us in the comments!

For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

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Posted By sysop to Smells Like News at 5/03/2012 04:35:00 PM

[Smells Like News] DJ Khaled Tallies His Losses After Tour Bus Fire

'I was on my laptop listening to my album. It's the only thing I grabbed,' Khaled tells Sway about the incident on 'RapFix Live.'
By Carter Maness, with reporting by Sway Calloway

DJ Khaled
Photo: MTV News

It all started with a bare tire. At least that's what DJ Khaled told Sway on Wednesday's "RapFix Live" about his recent tour bus explosion. A video of the incident, showing Khaled reflecting on the loss while the bus was engulfed in a mountain of flames, has been making the rounds, but the Miami DJ/producer finally explained what happened in the exclusive interview.

Apparently, a bare tire caused the large bus to overcompensate and heat up on the bottom. The growing temperature hit flammable material on the back end and, upon exiting the bus, everything under the hood was burnt.

"In no longer than five minutes, the whole bus was completely on fire," Khaled told Sway, still dumbfounded by the experience. "I wasn't scared. I got real stressed at a moment. I had to stop, and my camera man, Daze, was like 'I'm gonna film this. I gotta capture this.' "

Losses for Khaled include at least 150 pairs of sneakers and up to $600,000 in jewelry, including two big-faced Rolex watches. Knowing time was limited, he and his crew made sure to grab the most important thing: music for his upcoming album."I was on my laptop listening to my album. It's the only thing I grabbed," he said. "That's the album. Very important... Everybody sacrificed to make sure we got the laptop and the drive."

More than any material loss, Khaled was thankful that everyone got through the experience unscathed. "We all go through pains and stress. We here," he said. "It is what it is, but we got life."

Khaled also has some friends in high places to make life easier. Upon hearing the news, Cash Money honcho Birdman stepped up and immediately gave him a new bus from his fleet. "He called me when his bus blew, and it wasn't too far from where we stash our buses at," Birdman told Sway. "I was fortunate enough to send a bus to him and make sure he could continue his journey."

DJ Khaled's sixth album, Kiss The Ring, is expected later this year.

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Posted By sysop to Smells Like News at 5/03/2012 04:08:00 PM

[Smells Like News] Francis Lawrence's 'Catching Fire' To-Do List

As a new helmer takes over 'The Hunger Games,' Hobnobbing examines the challenges (and opportunities) that lie ahead.
By Amy Wilkinson

Francis Lawrence
Photo: Ian Gavan/ Getty Images

The reaping has concluded, with Francis Lawrence officially named victor in the contest to direct "Catching Fire," according to a release from Lionsgate.

It's been a fraught few weeks for fans following director Gary Ross' announcement that he would not helm the series' second installment. Numerous directors were reportedly in contention for the coveted position, including Alfonso Cuarón, David Cronenberg, Alejandro González Iñárritu and Bennett Miller. Lionsgate and producer Nina Jacobson ultimately singled out Lawrence, who most recently shepherded "Water for Elephants" from the page to the screen.

"From the very beginning of this brilliant trilogy's journey from page to screen, our first priority has been to stay true to the heart and soul of Suzanne Collins' powerful stories. From my first conversation with Francis, I knew he would make a great partner for both me and Suzanne," producer Nina Jacobson said in a statement. "His passion for 'Catching Fire' and inspired ideas for a faithful adaptation make him the perfect director for this movie. I know this will be a wonderful collaboration and I cannot wait to get started."

With a November 23, 2013, release date looming, Lawrence has a lot to accomplish within the next 18 months. From currying favor among Panem's faithful to casting a cabal of characters, let's examine the opportunities and challenges that await the director:

Fan Following
Say what you will about Ross' vision for and execution of the first installment of Suzanne Collins' series, but the director won over fickle fans before a single frame ever rolled by, positioning himself as an acolyte first and director second. Lawrence is already off to a winning start, posting a special message for fans on Facebook:

Hello fellow Hunger Games fans! I just want you all to know how unbelievably excited and honored I am to be a part of Catching Fire. At the end of the day, all of the work that I put in to my movies is for you -- the fans. Make sure to post and let me know what you're most excited to see in this adaptation as we aim to make something truly faithful and spectacular!

Lawrence can continue building consensus by giving fans further insight into his vision. How about sharing a sneak peek of concept art? Or, as filming progresses, taking a page out of "Breaking Dawn" director Bill Condon's playbook and sharing on-set images early? Involving fans during the film's infancy will keep fans eager and engaged.

Study Sequels
There are few more feared curses than the sophomore slump. Propelling an established narrative forward in an engaging and meaningful manner can sometimes be tricky, but it's an art that directors like Christopher Nolan ("The Dark Knight") have mastered. Better yet, Lawrence would be wise to look at franchises helmed by multiple directors (hello, "Harry Potter") to strategize a smooth transition.

Find Finnick (and Johanna and ... )
Lawrence's first high-profile decision as director will likely be casting the new players introduced during the Quarter Quell. Tributes Finnick Odair and Johanna Mason are of special interest to fans, with casting speculation running rampant. (Unsurprisingly, we have a few suggestions for the hunk and the hottie too.) The caliber of actors Lawrence lines up will say plenty about the sort of sequel he plans to direct. In other words: Make it good, Francis!

Stronger CGI
If there was a chief complaint among fans regarding Ross' work on "The Hunger Games," it was that the Girl on Fire effects were largely lackluster. Lawrence has the opportunity to improve here, and with a brand-new, intricately designed arena, the helmer can create his own vision of the Games that's not reliant upon the precedent set by Ross.

Phone Famous Friends
T. Bone Burnett is one of the best scorers in the biz, and his sensibility helped set the dire tone of the dystopian drama, so we hope he'll sign back up for the sequel. But, as is often the case, director shakeups can lead to staffing shakeups, so if Burnett is no longer game, Lawrence should take advantage of his musically inclined mates from his days as a video director. Aren't you at least a tiny bit curious what a Lady Gaga-produced "Catching Fire" score would sound like?

What do you think should be on Francis Lawrence's to-do list? Sound off in the comments below and tweet me @amymwilk with your thoughts and suggestions for future columns!

Earlier 'Hunger Games' columns
+ 'Fifty Shades Of Grey': What's In It For 'Hunger Games' Fans?
+ 'Catching Fire': Five Reasons To Be Stoked
+ 'Catching Fire' Director: Who Could Carry The Torch?
+ 'Hunger Games' Postmortem: Five Lessons For 'Catching Fire'

Check out everything we've got on "Hunger Games: Catching Fire."

For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

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Posted By sysop to Smells Like News at 5/03/2012 03:03:00 PM

[Smells Like News] 'The Expendables 2' Trailer: Five Key Scenes

Sylvester Stallone and his team return to fight an unexpected threat in this action-packed trailer.
By Fallon Prinzivalli

Sylvester Stallone in "The Expendables 2"
Photo: Lionsgate

After teasing the film with exclusive posters and movie stills, the first full-length trailer for "The Expendables 2" finally dropped Thursday (May 3).

IGN premiered the preview to the action-packed film with an intro from Sylvester Stallone himself. "If you thought the first movie kicked some serious ass," Sly says, "you haven't seen anything yet." With an A-List cast including Jason Statham, Bruce Willis, Jet Li, Terry Crews, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jean-Claude Van Damme and newcomers Liam Hemsworth and Chuck Norris, we don't doubt the "Rocky" actor's words.

The film follows the return of Barney Ross (Stallone) and his team as Mr. Church (Willis) enlists the Expendables for a job that seems like easy money. When one of their crew is murdered, however, the revenge they seek leaves them stranded in enemy territory having to combat an unexpected threat.

Check out the five key scenes from the action-packed trailer:

Swinging Into Action
The trailer opens with sirens blaring and the crew propelling down a zip-line into the middle of a forest. As you'd expect, the firing begins immediately as sparks start flying and a truck flips over — and we're only 30 seconds in. Just when you think Barney Ross and his team are the ones doing the ass-kicking, they're surrounded by the enemy. Lee Christmas (Statham) looks over Barney and asks, "That loaded?" Barney replies, "I hope so," and begins taking their captors down one by one with a hidden gun in his hand — or did he? The shot then cuts to newcomer Bill "The Kid" Timmons (Hemsworth), who is hiding in the trees with a smoking gun.

Time to Reload
The team loads their weapons as Barney tells the Kid, "Somebody's hooked." Protecting the world by taking out the bad guys with some heavy artillery — who wouldn't be? The next scene shows Lee in priest robes saying, "I now pronounce you man and knife," and cuts away before we catch a glimpse of who he inevitably stabs. The next clips show various members of the team speeding off on motorcycles, engaging in hand to hand combat, taking down helicopters and setting off explosion after explosion.

The Threat
Our villain comes in the form of Jean-Claude Van Damme (aptly named Jean Vilain) who's planning on using a very powerful chemical to change the balance of the world. World dominance, that's what every bad guy is after, right? As we see his team gathering, the tagline flashes across the screen, "When the threat is this great, everyone is expendable." If everyone's expendable, Barney is going to need a lot more men to get through this one.

Cue Chuck Norris and Arnold Schwarzenegger
Like clockwork the invincible Chuck Norris (Booker) approaches the camera walking away from cars engulfed in flames and smoke. (Cool guys don't look at explosions, remember?) Next is Arnold Schwarzenegger's (Trench) turn to get in a version of his classic tagline: "I'm back." As he says it, he leans out of a window wearing a band of bullets around his chest and casually smoking a cigar. Killing a few bad guys? Been there, done that.

The Plan
When Lee asks the plan of attack to stop the enemy, Barney says, "Track 'em, find 'em, kill 'em." And you guessed it, more explosions, more knife fights, and bullets, bullets, bullets. If you're looking for an action film, you will not be disappointed. One clip that stood out was Church pulling up in a tiny car and telling Trench to get in. He rips the door off the automobile as he climbs in and says, "My shoe is bigger than this car." It hints at the inevitable comedy involved in a film with an all-star cast. In the final sequence, Barney drives a plane into a tunnel and Lee says, "You're going to need a new plane." The two laugh as the screen fades to black.

"The Expendables 2" will explode into theaters August 17.

Check out everything we've got on "The Expendables 2."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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