• Inflatable zebras and hip-hop: 'Great Gatsby' movie isn't quite by the book, old sport

    Most adults have probably read F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby," whether for pleasure or for sophomore English class. It's just a slim novella, but it's been adapted into movies, referenced on television shows, turned into an opera, inspired songs, been re-imagined by other authors, and even become an opera and two computer games.

    Warner Bros

    Jay Gatsby drives a 1929 Dusenberg in the movie, which is set in 1922. Some fans of the book argue that he should only be in a Rolls-Royce.

    But the new movie version, starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Gatsby and Carey Mulligan as his longtime love Daisy, is perhaps the most expensive and ambitious iteration yet. It cost $127 million to make, is nearly two and a half hours long, and for some reason, is offered in 3-D.

    If you're seeing the movie and are wondering how it compares it to the book, here's a cheat sheet.

    You'll recognize some quotes, not others
    The exact words Fitzgerald wrote are vitally important to many fans. Microsoft founder Bill Gates reportedly has one of its famed last lines -- "He had come a long way to this blue lawn, and his dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it" -- painted on the library ceiling in his gigantic Seattle-area home. Such folks will be happy to know that in several critical places, including the all-important ending, the script sticks exactly to Fitzgerald's words. Daisy's poignant outburst about how the best thing in the world a girl can be is "a beautiful little fool" made the cut. Nick's speech about being one of the few who was actually invited to Gatsby's parties is pretty close. And the book's very first sentence, where Nick muses on advice his father gave him, is uttered word-for-word -- but then the script veers off and does its own thing.


    Fitzgerald's plot gets a weird framing device
    Messing with Fitzgerald's plot would have been a literary scandal, so the main Gatsby-Daisy-Tom triangle, the extravagant parties, the car accident and more all remain. But purists will cringe at the movie's framing device, where narrator Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) tells the story of Gatsby from a sanitarium where he's being treated for alcoholism and anxiety. At the film's end, he's seen finishing typing up the story with "GATSBY" as its title, then slashing the words "THE GREAT" over it in pen. Fitzgerald himself was reportedly ambivalent about the title, and tried out many versions, from "Trimalchio in West Egg" to "The High-Bouncing Lover."

    Warner Bros

    The "Great Gatsby" movie invents scenes where Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) is writing the story while in a sanitarium.

    Did the 1920s have hip-hop and inflatable zebras?
    "Gatsby" is set in 1922, amidst the roar of jazz and flapper culture. If you're interested in history, you can have fun picking out the objects that simply shouldn't exist in that era.

    In the book, an air mattress is famously present in a key scene, although Fitzgerald called it a "pneumatic mattress." Weirdly, the mattress is absent from that vital scene entirely. But it does appear in an earlier pool scene, along with ... inflatable zebras? Director Baz Luhrmann defended the stripey critters to the New York Times, saying period photographs show them. Perhaps, but Fitzgerald's book does not.

    Warner Bros.

    Gatsby's parties were legendary in the novel, but they did not include inflatable zebras.

    Luhrmann also defended "Gatsby's" Jay-Z led soundtrack, saying that what jazz was to Fitzgerald's era, hip-hop is to modern times. "Why would Fitzgerald put such ephemeral stuff, actual song lyrics, in his book?" Luhrmann asked the paper. "Because it made it immediate and visceral and exciting for the reader. And when you think of an African-American street music today that is visceral and exciting and is making a big impression on popular culture, that’s hip-hop." Jay-Z's lyrics do reference the time period in some parts -- "no Prohibition for my coalition" runs one line.

    Don't get your historian friends or car junkies started on the "Gatsby" cars. The movie shows DiCaprio's Gatsby driving a 1929 Dusenberg (a replica, made in the 1980s). The book clearly states Gatsby has a Rolls-Royce -- true, but it's also mentioned that he has more than one car -- so he could have owned a Dusenberg as well. But with the movie set in 1922, it wouldn't have been a 1929 model. Blogger Jerry Garrett, though, makes a convincing argument that a Dusenberg would not have impressed Daisy in the way a Rolls would have, and that impressing Daisy was what Gatsby lived for, so a Dusenberg is unlikely. (And the car chase it gets into -- with a 1930 Buick -- needless to say that wasn't in the book either.)

    Why the 3-D?
    "The Great Gatsby" seems like the most unlikely movie ever to get the 3-D treatment. This is not a superhero film, where Captain America's shield flies out at the audience, or a kids' movie, where viewers are easily enchanted by floating bubbles. Luhrmann told the Times that he felt the medium made the film more exciting and that he felt Fitzgerald would have approved. That led to the following hilarious tweet from former "Mystery Science Theater 3000" star Frank Coniff: "Baz Luhrmann says Fitzgerald would have wanted a 3-D Gatsby with rap music. Agreed -- he was an alcoholic with poor judgement."

    Well then, old sport
    If you need an engaging exercise while watching the new film, old sport, count how many times Gatsby says "old sport" to someone. We lost track around 20, old sport, but maybe you can keep up. But go back to the book, old sport -- Fitzgerald's Gatsby does use that nickname frequently, old sport, perhaps the affectation of a North Dakota boy who briefly spent time at Oxford and thinks it the height of sophistication. So on this point, old sport, we're giving the film a pass.

     

     

  • Jodi Arias the movie will have sex, drama, troubled relationship

    Reuters, Getty Images

    Jodi Arias, left, pictured during her trial at Maricopa County Superior Court. Tania Raymonde, right, will play Arias in the upcoming Lifetime movie about her trial.

    As convicted murderer Jodi Arias sits in an Arizona jail’s psychiatric ward on suicide watch, actress Tania Raymonde is 400 miles away portraying Arias for an upcoming Lifetime movie.

    Best known for her work on “Lost,” Raymonde has dyed her hair blonde for the movie tentatively titled “The Jodi Arias Story,” which is being filmed in the Los Angeles area. Arias was found guilty of first-degree murder Wednesday in the death of her ex boyfriend, Travis Alexander, who she stabbed 29 times, including slashing his throat, and shot once in the head on June 4, 2008, according to trial testimony.

    When "The Jodi Arias Story" airs this June, the people who were glued to the four-month long proceedings can expect the same fascinating courtroom drama in the movie version of Arias' trial.

    “Tania has somehow tapped into the sweet and likable things that drew Travis to Jodi, into Jodi’s weird eccentricities that are hard to explain, and into the demons that drove this young woman to do such a terrible, extreme thing,” said Arturo Interian, vice president of original movies for Lifetime Networks and A&E networks. “Tania has immersed herself in this role and I’ve seen her go from sexy to downright scary in the same scene.”

    Lifetime began developing the film in March of 2012. An early draft of the script obtained by NBCNews.com indicates that the movie will prominently feature Arias’ and Alexander’s tumultuous on-and-off romance—along with their now infamous sex life—and the events that led to his brutal death. In fact, it opens with the pig-tailed Arias nude on a bed posing for photographs—an iconic image to the trial’s followers.

    But now that Arias has been convicted, Interian said the script is being re-written to include key trial moments, particularly some of the heated exchanges between prosecutor Juan Martinez and Arias during cross-examination. Actor Tony Plana has been cast to play Martinez, who has become a local star and YouTube sensation as the result of his vigorous cross-examination techniques. Raymonde will go back to being a brunette for those scenes.

    The script portrays Arias as a self-help-yearning, budding photographer who becomes obsessed with Alexander as soon as she meets him. She sneaks into his house through the doggie door, sends threatening emails to other women, and stalks him. Alexander is depicted as a flirtatious and popular goofball who becomes sexually addicted to Arias but does try to get rid of her.

    During the televised trial, Arias testified for 18 days and provided outrageous and explicit details of her rocky relationship with Alexander, including a phone sex tape she recorded, photographs they took of each other having sex, and tales of Tootsie Pops and Pop Rocks escapades.

    “We approached this story creatively from the point of view that Travis was the victim, and were trying to wrap our arms around why Jodi did what she did,” Interian said. “I think the verdict certainly validated our approach…I think people are fascinated with Jodi and I think this film is a serious attempt to look at what makes her tick. At the same time, I think what’s been lost in this story is the victim in this case.”

    Jesse Lee Soffer of “The Mob Doctor” is playing Alexander and “will bring home the fact that a young man died needlessly here,” Interian said. The network hopes to bring to life Arias’ and Alexander’s relationship “in a way that only movies can.”

    “Jesse’s a handsome fellow and he brings such a humanity to Travis,” Interian said. “You really understand this was a charismatic young man, a successful motivational speaker, and you really see why Jodi fell so hard for him. And I think Travis had a bit of naiveté as to what Jodi was capable of, and I think that Jesse captures that so well. Travis wanted to believe the best about Jodi and it cost him.”

    And, of course, there will be sex. Although some of Alexander’s friends believed him to be a virgin, Arias provided plenty of evidence to the contrary during the trial.  But can a basic cable network handle their X-rated trysts?

    “There was certainly more to the Jodi-Travis relationship than just sex but given the dirty phone calls, the naked pictures, the sexts between them, certainly the media has focused in on their sex lives,” Interian said. “They were a young couple and they had kinky sex. I think our director, Jace Alexander, is up to the challenge. It’s basic cable so we don’t have to be quite so chaste as folks think. So, yes, there will be sex.”

  • Gary Oldman, Marion Cotillard star in religious-themed David Bowie video

    Floria Sigismondi

    David Bowie, Marion Cotillard, Gary Oldman.

    When David Bowie makes a comeback, he does so in style -- and has lots of famous friends who want in on the fun. His latest music video, the title track from his album "The Next Day," stars Oscar-winning actress Marion Cotillard and Oscar-nominated actor Gary Oldman -- and seems designed to stir controversy.

    The video, directed by Floria Sigismondi (who also directed the video for Bowie's earlier release' "The Stars (Are Out Tonight)"), features Oldman as a priest, Bowie as a prophet (think Jesus Christ) and Cotillard as a saintly figure. Meanwhile, in the background, a Cardinal is dealing in cash and a nun prays ... and that's before the stigmata starts gushing.

    At the video's end, the cast of characters gathers around Bowie as he beatifically thanks Oldman and Cotillard directly, then "everybody," and at the toll of a bell, vanishes.

    (Note: Video contains some violent scenes.)

    Bowie's "Stars" video also featured an Oscar winner: Tilda Swinton.

    He's worked with Oldman before; the pair recorded Bowie's "You've Been Around" for frequent Bowie-collaborator and guitarist Reeves Gabrel's 1995 album "The Sacred Squall of Now." Oldman and Bowie also appeared together in the 1996 biopic "Basquiat," where Bowie played Andy Warhol and Oldman played painter Albert Milo. 

  • Aerosmith, New Kids, more to perform at Boston Strong benefit concert

    There's an abundance of entertainment talent who call the Boston area home, so its no surprise that many of those musicians and performers have come together for an event to support The One Fund Boston, which benefits those most affected by the April 15 bombings.

    EPA, AP, Getty

    James Taylor, Jimmy Buffett, and Aerosmith are all part of "Boston Strong: An Evening of Support and Celebration" on May 30.

    On May 30, Aerosmith, Jason Aldean, Boston, Jimmy Buffett, Dane Cook, Extreme, Godsmack, The J. Geils Band, Carole King, New Kids on the Block, James Taylor, and Steven Wright will perform at "Boston Strong: An Evening of Support and Celebration." More acts are expected to join the rundown for the event, which will be held at TD Garden. 

    Donnie Wahlberg, a native Bostonian and member of New Kids of the Block, said that he hopes the event will have a scope that goes beyond just raising money.

    "Like so many other proud Bostonians who have been extremely generous, we are honored to step up and do our part to help the victims and their families," Wahlberg said. "Hopefully this event will not only raise money, but spirits as well."

    Taylor said that the will to do something for the city was a genuine one. "Everyone involved has responded from the heart in a spontaneous and simultaneous desire to be there, and to do what we can for the city we love," he said. "I am honored to be a part of it, and ... I can't wait."

    Tickets go on sale Monday, May 6, at 10 a.m. Check out www.aconcertforboston.org for more specifics.

     

  • Kris Kross rapper's death being investigated as possible drug overdose, police say

    Jonathan Phillips / REUTERS

    Chris Kelly of Kris Kross performs in February 2013.

    Kris Kross rapper Chris Kelly's death is being investigated as a possible drug overdose, Cpl. Kay Lester, a spokeswoman for Atlanta's Fulton County police, told NBCNews.com.

    Information obtained from family members and others at the scene helped lead the investigation in that direction, but more information won't be known until toxicology results are back from Kelly's autopsy, Lester said.

    That autopsy, completed Thursday morning in Atlanta, showed no signs of foul play or trauma, the Fulton County medical examiner's office told NBCNews.com. Toxicology results will be available in approximately three weeks, a spokeswoman said.

    Kelly, 34, was discovered unresponsive in his Atlanta home Wednesday and pronounced dead early that evening. Kelly and childhood friend Chris Smith traveled the world as 1990s rap group Kris Kross when they were just 13, and their hit song "Jump" was certified double platinum.

    On Thursday, both Chris Smith and Kelly's family issued statements mourning Kelly.

    "His legacy will live on through his music, and we will forever love him," said the statement from Kelly's mother, Donna Kelly Pratte, and his record label So So Def.

    In his statement, Kelly's musical partner Smith said, "Our friendship began as little boys in first grade. We grew up together. It was a blessing to achieve the success, travel the world and entertain Kris Kross fans all around the world with my best friend."

    Related content:

     

  • Why Iron Man, a playboy with panic attacks, is our best superhero

    Four major superheroes have new movies this year. Superman gets a reboot in June's "Man of Steel," the deadly claws of "The Wolverine" spring back out in July, and Thor will swing his hammer in November's "Thor: The Dark World." But the liveliest of the current superhero franchises arrives Friday, as "Iron Man 3" hits theaters.

    Paramount Pictures file

    Iron Man feels like a more human, relatable superhero than most of his type.

    Thanks in no small part to its star, the can't-take-your-eyes-off-him Robert Downey Jr., the "Iron Man" movie series has soared. With Downey in the suit and smart writing and directing behind the scripts, Iron Man/Tony Stark has transformed from his comic-book portrayal as Captain America's billionaire buddy to the most super of superheroes. Here's why.

    He's got problems
    Superman and Captain America are so goody-two-shoes you could bring them home to mother, even if she's Mother Teresa. Iron Man, like Downey himself, has a bad-boy rep. In his real identity as Tony Stark, he drank too much, he spent too much, he slept with too many women. He's a little more on the straight-and-narrow now, but he still has crippling anxiety attacks that leave him hyperventilating by the side of the road in a most un-heroic fashion. And he's not above dancing like a dork in his super-secret lab.

    Disney

    Don Cheadle, aka War Machine/Iron Patriot, is Tony Stark's pal. Unlike Robin, he's no fawning sidekick.

    He's got the coolest friends
    Col. James Rhodes, aka War Machine (Don Cheadle), is a much more entertaining sidekick than Batman's Robin. In his real life, he's a full-on military man, and in his suit, he's just about as tough as Iron Man. But he and Tony have the greatest just-bros relationship outside of Joey and Chandler. ("It's not the '80s, nobody says 'hacks' anymore," Tony chides him in the new film.) And we also love Tony's pal Happy (Jon Favreau), who's head of security for a global corporation but still has no idea how to work an iPad.

    He's not ashamed of his suit
    Captain America has his super-soldier serum, the Incredible Hulk his dose of gamma radiation. Iron Man is a smart and buff billionaire, but he wouldn't be a superhero without the powerful suit he himself invented. And who cares? Batman's just a regular billionaire too, with a really cool arsenal of Bat-gadgets. Tony's never hidden the fact that he needs his suit -- in fact, he almost revels in it, displaying his different outfits in his mansion and even giving them names.

    Sometimes his stuff fails
    Does it ever. Like a smartphone, sometimes Iron Man's suit is crying out for a charge at the most inconvenient moments. Other times, Tony tries to call the pieces of the suit to him, and gets smacked in the face for his troubles. In the third film, it even zips to his aid while he's sleeping, which really freaks out Pepper.

    Disney

    Gwyneth Paltrow is neither a babe nor a wimp as Pepper Potts.

    His girlfriend is neither a wimp nor a babe
    Whatever you think of World's Most Beautiful Woman Gwyneth Paltrow, she does a decent job as Tony's girlfriend, the goofily named Pepper Potts. She doesn't slink around in gowns cut down to there like a Bond girl, and she doesn't cower in the background and wait to get kidnapped either (although it has happened). She and Tony have an easy rapport and you do believe they care about each other. Tony's lost a lot of things through his own stupid fault, and it's clear he doesn't want Pepper to be one of them.

    He's up on pop culture
    Tony, and his entire film series, doesn't live in the 1940s, like Captain America, or in some grim and somber Gotham, like Batman. He's a part of our world, with all its bad TV and fast food and cheesy products. He wears a Black Sabbath shirt (in sly tribute to their "Iron Man" song).  He references Barrel of Monkeys during a mid-air rescue. In "Iron Man 3," he finds himself donning a Dora the Explorer watch, and learning that his pal Happy is addicted to "Downton Abbey." Tony lives in Malibu, not Made Up Ville.

    He knows how to be rich
    Tony Stark is a billionaire, and he knows how to be one. He bought himself a space-age stunner of a mansion on the cliffs of Malibu, and he drives fancy speedsters like the all-electric concept car, the Audi R8. He sweeps in to fancy dinners and balls in a tux and occasionally breaks a paparazzi's camera -- just as we like to think we would do if our bank account were a whole lot fatter.

    Who's your favorite superhero? Vote in our poll, and tell us on Facebook.

  • Audiences: Movie trailers give too much away, but don't deter attendance

    AP

    Robert Downey Jr. (in Iron Man suit) with Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts in "Iron Man 3."

    For the past several months, trailers for this summer's most anticipated films have been hitting the web on a nearly daily basis. But the trailers aimed at getting moviegoers excited for these big-budget releases may be showing off a bit too much.

    PHOTOS: "Iron Man 3" premiere: Robert Downey Jr. mingles with Marvel royalty

    According to a new study, half (49 percent) of Americans feel that movie trailers these days give away too many of a movie’s best scenes, with a full 16 percent agreeing strongly.

    So should the scenes from "Iron Man 3" of Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) saving a group of people falling from an airplane or flying through the air with an army of other Iron Mans be saved for when audiences actually hit the theater?

    The findings from the YouGov Omnibus survey taken April 26 to 28 found that the reveal of plot in a trailer deterred only about 19 percent of respondents from wanting to see the movie. In contrast, 24 percent said that it made them want to see the film more.

    PHOTOS: "Iron Man 3" Tour: Robert Downey Jr. travels the world

    Movie trailers remain extremely important to audiences, playing the biggest role (48 percent) in pushing people to see a movie, followed closely by personal recommendations (46 percent).

    So even if a trailer shows some of the best scenes from a film, it doesn't mean people won't see it. And films like "Iron Man 3" still have a few surprises up their sleeves (see the stars talk about what makes the film so surprising here.)

    Movie studios have tried a variety of techniques over the past few years when it comes to trailers. Some, such as recent release Oblivion, starring Tom Cruise, have gone out of their way to avoid showing major surprises in the plot. And Lionsgate's "Hunger Games" trailers didn't show any of the footage from the actual arena where the fighting took place.

    What remains important to moviegoers when they actually sit down in the theater is that there's a good plot or storyline to the film (77 percent), followed by the cast (45 percent), the genre (22 percent), the director (20 percent) and the book or play it’s based on (15 percent).

    Tell us what you think about movie trailers over on Facebook!

     

  • Kris Kross member found dead in Atlanta home

    UPDATED Thursday 12:06 p.m. ET: Chris Kelly, one-half of the rap duo Kris Kross — known for making America "Jump" in the 1990s — passed away on Wednesday, Georgia authorities announced. He was 34.

    Kelly was discovered unresponsive in his Atlanta home and pronounced dead at Atlanta Medical Center shortly after 5:30 p.m. local time, according to the Fulton County Medical Examiner. 

    The  cause of death has not yet been determined. An autopsy is planned for Thursday.

    Kelly and fellow Kris Kross member Chris Smith were just 13 in 1991 when they were famously discovered at Atlanta's Greenbriar Mall by well-known rapper and producer Jermaine Dupri, who was just 19 himself.

    Kelly went by the nickname "Mac Daddy" and Smith went by "Daddy Mac." 

    They were best known for the 1992 hit "Jump" on their debut album "Totally Krossed Out" and their penchant for wearing their clothes backwards.  "Jump" rode the No.1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks, and that same year, the teens toured Europe as part of Michael Jackson's "Dangerous" world tour. Although they would go on to release two more albums, they would never again reach the heights of "Jump."

    Getty Images file

    Kris Kross in 1992.

    The duo also had a video game (ranked one of the 20 worst of all time by Electronic Gaming Monthly) and recorded a rap song for the cartoon "Rugrats." They appeared on the "Cosby Show" spinoff "A Different World" and in the 1993 hip-hop comedy film "Who's the Man?"

    In February, Kris Kross performed together once more, performing at the 20th anniversary party for So So Def Recordings, Dupri's Atlanta record label. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution noted that the two were "all grown up and wearing clothes the right way."

    Kelly's mother, Donna Kelly Pratte, and record label So So Def released this statement:

    "It is with deep sadness that we announce that our beloved Chris Kelly has passed away on May 1. To millions of fans worldwide, he was the trendsetting, backwards pants-wearing one-half of Kris Kross who loved making music. But to us, he was just Chris -- the kind, generous and fun-loving life of the party. Though he was only with us a short time, we feel blessed to have been able to share some incredible moments with him. His legacy will live on through his music, and we will forever love him."

    Chris Smith issued his own statement, grieving over the loss of his one-time bandmate.

    "Chris Kelly was my Best Friend," the rapper said in a statement, reported by E! Online. "He was like a brother. I love him and will miss him dearly.

    "Our friendship began as little boys in first grade. We grew up together. It was a blessing to achieve the success, travel the world and entertain Kris Kross fans all around the world with my best friend," he continued. "It is what we wanted to do and what brought us happiness. I will always cherish the memories of the C-Connection."

    On Wednesday night, rapper LL Cool J tweeted a link to his new song, "Jump On It," with the words, "R.I.P Chris Kelly. This song is now officially dedicated to you. May GOD embrace your soul & lift up your family."

     

    Do you remember Kris Kross? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.

     

  • 11 summer movies not to miss

    Once you're an adult, summer doesn't quite mean what it used to. Most of us don't get June, July and August off any more, and end up whiling away the majority of the season staring wistfully out the office window at that so-fleeting sunshine.

    "Man of Steel," "The Great Gatsby," "World War Z" and "Monsters University" are among our picks for summer must-see movies.

    But one of the perks of summer that Americans of all ages and job descriptions get is the summer movie season. Don't expect to see gritty, intense Oscar contenders on these long, hot days -- this is the time for pure popcorn, light and fluffy films with explosions and animation, superheroes and zombies. 

    More than 60 movies will open over the course of the summer. Here are 11 you'll want to consider putting on your must-see list.

    If you can only see ONE summer blockbuster, see 'Iron Man 3'
    It's tough to imagine the "Iron Man" series without cocky, wisecracking Robert Downey Jr. in the lead role. Who else could make Tony Stark/Iron Man the most fascinating superhero onscreen? Stark is super, sure, but he also has battled alcoholism and anxiety attacks, and his super-flubs are as intriguing as his big battles. Downey makes you buy into it for two-plus hours in "Iron Man 3," backed by a superb supporting cast, including Don Cheadle, Jon Favreau, Guy Pearce and Gwyneth Paltrow. Other films have their fans (we hear you, Trekkies!), but "Iron Man 3" might be the biggest summer blockbuster in a summer filled with them. (Opens May 3.)

    If you're an English major, see 'The Great Gatsby'
    If we made a list of the movies least likely to benefit from 3-D, "The Great Gatsby" would top that list. Hey! Guess what? Hollywood put it in 3-D anyway! It's supposed to give a more immersive experience, but really, can't F. Scott Fitzgerald's legendary characters and story do that on their own? But this latest rendition of "Gatsby" is going all out, with Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby, Tobey Maguire as Nick and Carey Mulligan as Daisy. Aussie director Baz Luhrmann made "Moulin Rouge!" and "Romeo + Juliet," and both those films made waves for their style and panache. Traditionalists who want to see a straightforward march straight to the green light at the end of Daisy's dock may be clutching their knotted pearls when they see this one. (Opens May 10.)

    If you're missing your friends from Starfleet Academy, see 'Star Trek Into Darkness'
    Give the folks behind "Star Trek: Into Darkness" (and its 2009 predecessor, "Star Trek") huge props. Rebooting a series that was so beloved for so long without alienating devoted fans has to rank right up there with solving the Kobayashi Maru training exercise. And like a young James T. Kirk back in his school days, they somehow pulled it off. The rebooted movie series is a solid new take on Kirk, Spock, Bones and the rest -- we especially love Simon "Shaun of the Dead" Pegg as Scotty. And as much as Trekkies love to dig for info, this film has managed to maintain a certain secrecy about the villain, played by Benedict Cumberbatch and named John Harrison. Is Harrison a version of the legendary baddie Khan? Or Gary Mitchell from the original series? Does it matter? We'll be there faster than a red-shirted ensign can say, "Look out, Capt--" (Opens May 17.)

    If you like quirky growing-up tales, see 'The Kings of Summer'
    It looks a little like "Stand By Me" with a more modern, sarcastic sensibility. "The Kings of Summer" was a Sundance hit. Three boys whose parents are driving them crazy build a house in the woods -- and a pretty decent one, too -- and leave civilzation behind. Or kind of. They may make occasional forays to a nearby Boston Market. In previews, the boys are charming and likable, and the parents include the fabulous Nick Offerman who reportedly all but steals the movie. We're guessing this will become a cult fave a la "Donnie Darko." (Opens May 31.) 

    If you want to see Hollywood stars die horribly yet humorously, see 'This Is the End'
    It's maybe the weirdest concept film of the summer. Hollywood stars play themselves having a big party at James Franco's house jut as the apocalypse -- complete with hellfire, crumbling earth, monsters and Rapture-style abductions -- comes to Los Angeles. Stars like Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Michael Cera and Craig Robinson react pretty much as any character they've ever played would react -- by running around like loons, fighting over the lone remaining Milky Way candy bar and getting robbed by Emma Watson. "Hermione stole all our (expletive)," announces Danny McBride. It could be awful, but based on the rapport of the leads, we're declaring it so silly it's might just be great. (Opens June 12.)

    If you like your superheroes polite and clean-cut, see 'Man of Steel'
    Iron Man's charming, but his personal problems could fill a therapist's file cabinet. Not so Superman. Sure, he and Lois Lane have issues, but Clark Kent/Superman is still the superhero you could safely bring home to Mom. That can mean he's ... kinda boring, and the trailers don't do much to dispel that, showing a young Clark saving a busload of schoolkids and angstily fretting about his place in the world.  One early review of the new "Man of Steel," however, claims that the trailer misrepresents things and Supes really kicks some butt in the movie. Some fans will always mourn Christopher Reeve, but new star Henry Cavil sure has the look down. We'll soon see if he can leap tall buildings in a single bound. (Opens June 14)

    If you can't get enough zombies, see 'World War Z'
    "The Walking Dead" is on break, but zombies will be chewing brains all over the big screen in "World War Z." Here's our concern: The film's based on Max Brooks' excellent book, which is told by a UN employee who traveled the world interviewing people of all nationalities about how the zombie uprising affected them. (If you know Studs Terkel's "The Good War," it's that but with the undead.) But the movie's trailer takes Brooks' title and turns it into a we've-seen-this-before action flick as Brad Pitt works to save his children and wife from the zombies. Yes, you can't judge a film by a 2-minute preview, but between the excellence we've become accustomed to on "Walking Dead" and Brooks' fine book, we have high expectations. Someone on this set better have kept their braaaaaaaaaains. (Opens June 21)

    If you have a kid, or are a kid at heart, see 'Monsters University'
    Not every sequel works, but "Monsters University," Pixar's prequel to its 2001 delight "Monsters Inc.," is positively inspired. Monsters Mike (voice of Billy Crystal) and Sulley (voice of John Goodman) were pals as co-workers in the original film, but when they met back in monster college, that wasn't the case. Bad for them, good for us, as we watch the dormmates fight it out (turns out Sulley sheds in his sleep) amid all the craziness of majoring in scaring. If this one doesn't entertain you, reassess your entertainment genes. (Opens June 21)

    If you loved 'Bridesmaids,' see 'The Heat'
    "The Heat" is a buddy-cop comedy with a twist -- the cops are women. And not just any women, but Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy. Director Paul Feig not only directed "Bridesmaids," he created the legendary "Freaks and Geeks," which always makes our list of "shows that should never have been canceled." Bullock's best when she's funny (sorry, "Blind Side" fans) and McCarthy is on a roll, so this should be fun.  (June 28)

    If you loved the Minions, see 'Despicable Me 2"
    It's a great summer for kid movies.  In 2010's "Despicable Me," Steve Carell introduced us to Gru, a supervillain with a passel of little yellow pill-shaped Minions who gabble to each other in gibberish and engage in Three Stooges-style slapstick that's somehow cuter than normal coming from them. Gru seemed tough at first, but his heart quickly melted when he took in three orphan girls. He's back in the sequel, and the Anti-Villain League (with an agent voiced by Kristen Wiig) needs his help to take down another baddie. Thankfully, the Minions and the girls are along for the ride. If you can't get enough of the little yellow guys, another spinoff film, "Minions," is coming in 2014. (Opens July 3.)

    If you loved 'Cars,' see 'Planes'
    Get ready for "Planes" bedsheets, stuffed toys, video games, phone apps and lunchboxes, because if you thought "Cars" saturated the world of kids, you ain't seen nothin' yet. Disney's "Planes" takes the action to the air with comic Dane Cook voicing Dusty Crophopper, the little cropduster with big dreams. He's no Lightning McQueen, but with a little help from his friends -- and a few zillion kid viewers -- he might just soar high. (Opens Aug. 9.)

     

    What movie are you most excited about? Tell us on Facebook.

     

  • Seven ways celebrities have come out as gay, from weddings to magazine covers

    The sports world was abuzz Monday after NBA center Jason Collins came out as the first openly gay professional athlete in a major sport. He may be alone in the NBA, but Collins has plenty of company in the celebrity world. Some stars have taken the route Collins did -- a major magazine cover -- but others have approached the announcement in different ways. Here's a look back.

    Getty Images file

    Jodie Foster, Jim Nabors and Ellen DeGeneres all found very different ways to announce the news of their sexuality.

     

    Bisexuality hedge
    Collins may be the first member of a major pro team to come out, but he's not the first gay athlete to speak about his or her sexuality -- not by a long shot. One of the most famous is tennis star Martina Navratilova. The star told The Tennis Channel that her sport kept her in the closet in 1980, fearing scandal. "Here I leave Czechoslovakia so I can be free, and I can't come out because of sponsors, I can't come out because my girlfriend is in the closet ... it was a mess," Navratilova said. So instead Navratilova said she was bisexual, scandal enough in those days.

    TIME

    In 1997, Ellen DeGeneres was one of the first celebrities to come out on a major magazine cover.

    Cover girl
    It was Ellen DeGeneres who started the whole magazine-cover coming out with her 1997 Time magazine cover and its famous headline, "Yep, I'm Gay." It was a brave move, and one that hurt DeGeneres' career for years after the announcement, the Human Rights Campaign reports. At the time, DeGeneres was also starring on her own sitcom, "Ellen," and the character she played also came out as gay that week. Oprah Winfrey played the therapist that the TV Ellen came out to, and later told The Hollywood Reporter that merely for playing that role, she received hate mail and threatening phone calls that included racial slurs.

    Thoughtful and serious
    As the son of Gloria Vanderbilt, privacy was almost always impossible for Anderson Cooper. The journalist said he tried to keep his private life private, especially since he often traveled to war zones where he wanted to "blend in" for safety. But in July 2012, Cooper came out in an email he allowed The Daily Beast to publish. "The fact is, I'm gay, always have been, always will be," Cooper wrote. "And I couldn't be any more happy, comfortable with myself, and proud."

    The non-coming out coming out
    So what exactly did Jodie Foster say in her famed 2013 Golden Globes speech? "I hope you’re not disappointed that there won’t be a big coming-out speech tonight, because I already did my coming out about a thousand years ago," the actress and former child star told an audience of millions. She did? Most fans didn't recall a public coming out from Foster but she obviously wasn't ready to call this one either. She did, however, thank her former partner Cydney Bernard, calling her "one of the deepest loves of my life, my heroic co-parent, my ex-partner in love but righteous soul sister in life." So ... she's out then?

    Bury it in the New York Times
    Jim Parsons is best known as nerdy Sheldon Cooper on "The Big Bang Theory," but it was a Broadway show that spurred his announcement.  Parsons was profiled in the New York Times in May of 2012, and deep within the story was one line: "Mr. Parsons is gay and in a 10-year relationship." The line made sense in context -- Parsons was playing a gay character in the play "The Normal Heart" -- but the information about the play was all but lost in the media buzz over Parsons' personal revelation.

    AP file

    Jim Nabors, seen here in 1966 on "Gomer Pyle," announced his sexuality by marrying his male partner in Seattle in 2013.

    Did I mention I'm married?
    Goll--ee! Jim Nabors, beloved as Gomer Pyle on the 1960s sitcom, let his wedding do the talking for him. In January 2013, Nabors married his longtime partner Stan Cadwallader at a fancy Seattle hotel. "We've been together for 38 years, and I'm not ashamed of people knowing, it's just that it was such a personal thing, I didn't tell anybody," Nabors told a Hawaii newspaper. The actor was 82 when he wed and has been with Cadwallader for 38 years.

    Meet my baby
    Nabors' news was delivered due to a wedding, but "American Idol" runner-up Clay Aiken came out due to another happy life event -- he became a father. In 2008, Aiken had a son via in vitro fertilization, and the boy's birth inspired him. "It was the first decision I made as a father," Aiken told People magazine

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  • 'Welcome to Myrtle Manor' stars arrested on sex, DUI charges

    WMBF

    "Welcome to Myrtle Manor" stars Lindsay Colbert (right) and Taylor Burt.

    Over the course of three days, three of the stars from the docu-series "Welcome to Myrtle Manor" were welcomed to South Carolina's Myrtle Beach Jail.

    It all started in the early hours of Friday morning. That's when Amanda Adams, identified on the show's website as a "turtle hunting, four wheel driving redneck," was arrested for driving under the influence.

    Officers were responding to a call about a single-vehicle collision when they found Adams' damaged Jeep Wrangler next to a downed electric pole. According to a report from the Myrtle Beach Police Department, when officers asked the 26-year-old how much she'd had to drink, she told them she'd consumed three beers and one shot, though later she added three more shots to that tally.

    Her blood alcohol level was .20 -- .08 is the legal limit in South Carolina.

    There was more trouble on Saturday night as Taylor Burt, known as "the king of Myrtle Beach nightlife" on the TLC series, was arrested for having sex with a minor under the age of 16.

    According to the police report, a 15-year-old and her mother made the allegations against Burt, 28, on Friday. The girl went on to get physical exam at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center.

    No further details have been made available about Burt's arrest.

    But the brushes with the law continued on Sunday, with the latest incident involving 21-year-old Lindsay Colbert.

    A Myrtle Beach police report reveals that Colbert was arrested for driving under the influence -- with a blood alcohol level above .15 -- and speeding.

    A separate incident report described Adams' behavior as "an emotional rollercoaster throughout the procedure" and said the reality star asked the arresting officer, "Are you giving me (expletive) 'cause I am on the show?"

    She was also said to have made racial slurs toward the officer.

    TODAY.com reached to TLC about the arrests, but the network had no comment.

  • 'Two and a Half Men' teen star won't be a regular next season

    Peter Kramer / AP file

    Jon Cryer, Ashton Kutcher and Angus T. Jones in 2011. Jones isn't listed as a regular cast member on the show's upcoming season.

     

    When CBS's hit sitcom "Two and a Half Men" returns this fall, the show will be half a man down. CBS announced Friday that though the show -- and actors Jon Cryer and Ashton Kutcher -- will be returning for an eleventh season, child star Angus T. Jones will not be signing on as a regular cast member. 

    Jones, 19, could reportedly return to the series periodically as a recurring character, however, Deadline.com reports. Both Kutcher and Cryer have signed on for one-year contracts for the series.

    PHOTOS: Angus kisses Miley Cyrus on Men

    A source tells Us Weekly that one of the reasons Jones will not be returning is because his interests now lie elsewhere: Music.

    "They tried really hard to keep him, but he was just done done," the source said, adding that the young actor is interested in "Skrillex style" tracks specifically.

    VIDEO: Charlie Sheen rants about show creator Chuck Lorre

    Jones made headlines in November 2012 when he released a YouTube video slamming "Men" and calling the show "filth," asking viewers to "please stop watching." Shortly after the video went viral on the Internet, Jones came forward to apologize for his harsh words, offering a mea culpa to the cast and crew.


    The actor apologized for "showing indifference and disrespect of my colleagues and a lack of appreciation of the extraordinary opportunity of which I have been blessed." 

    PHOTOS: Stars on set

    In January 2013, CBS entertainment chief Nina Tassler told reporters that she accepted the apology and was looking forward to having Jones back on the show. "The kid is 19 years old. I've got a 24-year-old," she said. "Between the ages of 19 and 24, there's been plenty of things my kid has said that I wish he hadn't. The bottom line is that cooler heads prevailed."

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