Although Bloom’s  previous elf character isn’t written in J.R.R Tolkien’s original novel, Jackson is excited to reveal that Middle Earth will once more revel in Legolas’ presence.  The director can’t wait to work with Bloom and quips that as much as 10 years has passed by since Lord of The Rings brought Orlando’s stardom to great heights,  he doesn’t look a day older than the day he first wowed audiences as Legolas. That in itself, makes him a wonderful elf indeed!

With 14 years  sitting on the drawing board, The “Hobbit” prequel movies finally gets a move on things after getting buried in some set backs.  New Line Cinema had Peter Jackson filing suit against them for claims of lost revenue  related to The Fellowship of the Ring.

Taking on Guillermo del Torro as it’s new director three year later, conflicts in scheduling forced him to drop out of the project in May 2010 bringing Jackson back in his director’s chair in October of 2010.

As if that was enough hoopla surrounding the films, union disputes in New Zealand put the project on a tipped edge of relocating filming all the way to Europe. And just to put the cherry on the delay icing, Jackson suffered from a perforated ulcer and had to undergo surgery.

Now back in the good saddle, Jackson has his Facebook page beaming with images of him hanging out on the set of this much awaited prequel.  Cate Blanchett, Elijah Wood, Ian McKellan and Andy Serkis are also  reliving their previous roles from the epic trilogy of The Lord of The Rings. The Hobbit prequel has its plot centred on the characters of Bilbo and Frodo.

I wonder if they will wear ruby rings.

Photo Credit: stac171

Photo Credit: robertnkellypattinson

Most of you girls out there might have to skip work and take the day off to watch the final episodes of All My Children on ABC, as the show draws to a close this fall. Josh Duhamel is up for a cameo role as his old character in Pine Valley, Leo du Pres.  Yeah, you read that right! Now you can scream into that pillow an breathe. You’re handsome strapping Transformers GI has signed up for this short comeback in honor of the show that took him on an express ride to stardom.

Duhamel rose to fame playing Leo du Pres in this long-running daytime soap. He even won an Emmy in 2002 for his con artist character.  His love interest in the show , Greenlee , who is played by Rebecca Budig, is also back on the set after leaving the program a few time since Josh Duhamel left the show in 2003.

True enough, the cameo appearance of Leo will be one of the highlights of this season ender as we may also expect  another on-screen affair between du Pres and Greenlee.

Apparently, Josh Duhamel isn’t the only actor doing a comeback to his soap beginnings before their beloved series takes the axe. Julian Moore, who starred in As the World Turns many moons ago, also returned to the show last year just prior to the soap leaving the airwaves. On January 2012, ABC will see One Life to Live bowing out of the tubes.  We may just as well see many big screen stars doing their own returns to this soap before it finally sees its last episode on air. These could include, Ryan Phillipe and Tommy Lee Jones.

Photo Credit: Barbara.Doduk

Photo Credit: Music4mix

For all you Buffy fans, guess who’s back from the vampire grave? After an 8 year break, Sarah Michelle Gellar resurrects onto the boob tube for CW network with its drama series “Ringer”.

Although Gellar had already considered a TV comeback two years ago, she made it clear that she wanted to get back on cable.  The actress also wanted to make sure that her fans would love whatever she does on TV as much as they loved growing up with Buffy.  Her new project seems to hold a lot of promise but is yet to prove its boob tube appeal with Buffy’s loyal fans.

The new CW series features Gellar’s role as a twin.  A recovering addict who is estranged from her wealthy twin sister, and goes on the run when she witnessed a murder. The story line boasts  of a juicy plot and reveals a lot of shocking twists.  This project was previously made for CBS but they passed it on to its sister network CW. Although the series is still in progress and only has the pilot on the table, it remains unsure if it will run as a full series.

After her stint with “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and the show came to a close in 2003, Gellar dipped her toes in “ The Grudge” and did some voice over for “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”.  She also married long time boyfriend Freddie Prinze Jr in September of 2001. The couple now have a daughter.

Photo Credit: gelatine2011

Photo Credit: blu_angel53

Guess who's growing his top gun locks into a rocker coif? Tom Cruise is now sporting a rather dishevelled do in preparation for his new project “ Rock of Ages”. Yeap, you read that right, he's diving in for the musicals. After his dancing antics, he's pretty sure to get into the singing soon.

Tom just recently received the Humanitarian Award at the 2011 Wiesenthal Center National Tribute Dinner in Beverly Hills. The Jewish organization prouds itself for its human rights advocacy on confronting racism. The actor was cited and honored for being a dedicated philantrophist.

Now back to the music, 48 year old Cruise is playing the role of Stacie Jaxx and excitedly claims he has been learning a lot of things lately to do his role some good justice. Having no musical experience with a guitar, he has been juggling lessons between electric guitar, acoustic guitar and singing! Kinda hard to imagine Tom Cruise belting out in screams and a pair of pleather tight jeans. Ha! Rock of Ages is slated to start shooting this month.

You gotta hand it to the guy who jumps on a couch wrapped in a total lovestruck high and marries this doe-eyed long lithed cutie who's idolized him for years. And then, he buys his own sonogram machine to monitor his first born, yet still manages to flip allover along his new age beliefs. The man certainly has his own thing going.

Giving a bit of a hint on Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, Tom Cruise is definitely keen to see how his co-produced film will reflect a new and distinct impression from its past sequels. The movie is scheduled for it's release in December 2011.

Photo Credit: Flame80

Photo Credit: Tom Cruise e Katie Holmes

Rob Lowe has his memoir out on the shelves entitled “Stories I Only Tell My Friends”, which delves into years of movies, his beginnings, his pitfalls and his rise back into the good life. His autobiography has him telling of how he knocked at Liza Minelli’s hotel suite and introduced himself to the “Cabaret “diva at the tender and spunky age of 10 years old. That same drive for success is what got him through the relentless tides of stardom. He recalls his childhood years hanging out with neighbours Charlie Sheen and Emilio Esteves, and his early auditions and movies with Sean and Chris Penn.

Indeed, the man has a lot of stories to tell. His love for women, family, politics and acting. In 1983, director Francis Ford Coppola casted him in his movie “The Outsiders”. This was a breaking moment for the handsome heartthrob, in which he recalls the director asking them to begin their day’s work with a bit of Tai Chi. Lowe writes, “I don’t know what Tai Chi is. I look around for a delivery man. Maybe it’s some sort of Asian take-out. .. this would be great because I’m starving.”

His charming naivety is what led us all to like him just the way he is. Scandals and all. “Stories I Only Tell My Friends” is a good read for those of you who grew up with the Brat Pack. Re-live those years of John Hughes movies , re-kindle those juvenile heists, and find a growing respect for the same man who has found himself bathed in a much brighter light of fame.

Update your Rob Lowe DVD collection here

Photo Credit: costellos

Photo Credit: nishiyym

Yipee! My favorite beauty brand is launching a makeup line soon. L’Occitane has always topped my list of favorite skincare brands, and it’s a wonderful surprise to know that they’re coming up with a natural makeup line—flower-inspired, of course!

According to Stylelist.com, L’Occitane is introducing a Peony makeup collection with their new Peony fragrance this May. In case you didn’t know, “Peony is a symbol of beauty and femininity in the Mediterranean,” said Laure Masson, L’Occitane’s UK Marketing Manager. The makeup line includes eye, cheek, and face colors, as well as bronzer, lipstick, and lipgloss. I cannot wait!

I sure hope then don’t decide to put a face to the makeup line. Although celebrity endorsements have helped other beauty brands sell their products, L’Occitane has done well marketing their brand without the help of celebrities. Users such as myself have come to love the products for their genuine worth.

L’Occitane users, are you excited as I am?

Vogue Talents showcases underground and up-and-coming talents from designers to young entrepreneurs. The staff goes behind the scenes to cover gallery openings, fashion shows, and school events that showcase fresh talents.

Vogue Curvy pays tribute to plus-sized icons in the modeling and entertainment industry, as well as rising “it” girls of the shapely kind. Positive reinforcement articles and blogs take readers out of the stick-thin mentality that Hollywood has forced upon us for decades. It’s also the best spot to see which hot designers and retail stores cater to plus-sized fashionistas.

Vogue Black is like the couture version of TBW. Articles trace back the roots of African-American women, with travel and historical pieces. Blogs and features pay tribute to black issues and black icons from past to present, such as Amalia Vairelli and Destiny’s Child. The site’s fashion and beauty trends specifically cater to black women.

Although I’m impressed with the glamorous design and substantial contents of the sites, I’m worried that these “minorities” may end up compartmentalized. How does Vogue Italia determine if the up-and-coming minorities are to be upgraded to Vogue proper? How about putting a real curvy woman on the cover, the way W Magazine put Gabourney Sidibe on their January issue?

Overall, I give the sites two thumbs up. Let’s hope it opens women’s minds about embracing their true selves and staying off the diet pills.

Well, she certainly has a lot of them now, that is for sure!  Yet this pretty little singer is not forgetting who has been with her all throughout – her mom.  Her song “The Best Day” was written for her mom, whom she pays tribute to as her best friend.  Her new album “Fearless” is out.

Paparazi and court therapist costumes not included. 

Paparazi and court therapist costumes not included. 

 

Beware the seventh level of hell is soon upon us.  Kevin Federline has seen fit to give us more of his damn music this Halloween. 

October 31 K-Fed will be releasing the hounds of hell on us with his new album Playing with Fire.  I feel the actual definiton of the phrase ‘playing with fire’ probably has something to do with making this type of music.  I’m likely to set the record company responsible for the release of Federline music on fire myself.

Anyhoo, may this pre-weekend post make you appreciate that you are much better than Kevin Federline.  Happy Friday.

Howard screened his Da Vinci Code for the press at the Cannes film festival Tuesday night.  Critics apparently laughed their way through the full-length feature film, it’s the hair- I promise & received no applause, unless you count the crickets chirping.  Poor Opie.  Check out the review below: 

The Da Vinci Code drew lukewarm praise, shrugs of indifference, some jeering laughter and a few derisive jabs Tuesday from arguably the world’s toughest movie crowd: critics at the Cannes Film Festival. {Yahoo! News}
 
Even at two and a half hours, director Ron Howard’s adaptation feels cursory and rushed….[Tom Hanks] seems to have borrowed Rick Springfield’s haircut, circa “Jessie’s Girl,” and that’s his most distinctive personality trait. As sturdy and versatile an actor as Hanks can be, he can’t work miracles when he’s got nothing to work with. {NYP}
 
Opening the annual Cannes film festival, Ron Howard’s adaptation of the Dan Brown bestseller was described variously as “grim,” “unwieldy” and “plodding.” {Yahoo! News}
 
Ron Howard and screenwriter Akiva Goldsman have conspired to drain any sense of fun out of the melodrama, leaving expectant audiences with an oppressively talky film that isn’t exactly dull, but comes as close to it as one could imagine with such provocative material… {Variety}
 
“The feeling moved quickly from one of great anticipation to one of, shockingly, great boredom…instead of the film building to a white knuckle conclusion, it was the audience fidgeting as Da Vinci passed the two-hour mark and unveiled the first of its half-dozen endings…by the time the big climactic moment of the film finally arrived, the audience burst out laughing, as if this were yet another classic bit of Tom Hanks comedy. As the credits rolled, not a single bit of applause was heard.” {Film Stew}
 
Da Vinci’s over-reliance on exposition drew jeers on several occasions toward the end of the screening and even prompted a few walkouts as it faithfully went through the motions of translating Brown’s elaborate puzzler of a book to the big screen. {E!}

{Source}

The sequel to the long-loved 1992 Basic Instinct that starred Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone, failed to live up to the original film’s clarity and left the audience soft and wanting more.  Pulp author Catherine Tramell (Sharon Stone) is once again a suspect in a murder, this time in London.  David Morrissey, who plays the leading man Dr. Michael Glass, is called in to interrogate the femme fatale Stone. 

Through scenes of driving off a bridge just to achieve orgasm, horribly over-the-top dialogue, gratuitous nudity and Stone’s disdain for underwear, the film entices yet does not deliver.  Rent a porn, you’ll have a better, if not a more private, time. 

To quote Matt Pais from the ‘Chicago Tribune’, “Stone’s physique has resisted sagging but the film droops immediately.”

Despite the film’s disappointment, Stone remains an interesting individual in my eye.  In a recent ABC story, Stone is drawn as a sexy, vibrant and brave woman.  At 48 years old, Sharon Stone emits a strong sexuality that few women half her age achieve. 

When asked by reporters she, at the age of 48, would want to appear in Basic Instinct 2 completely naked she stated, “I thought it would be intriguing to do the nudity in a way that is just quite brazen.  People are going to have this moment where they think, ‘Oh, she’s not 20 and naked.  She’s 40-something and naked and what do I think about that?’  Because we’re not used to seeing that in movies.”

The first Basic Instinct was filmed over 14 years ago and was a racy film to hit theaters, but Stone wanted to push the envelope a little bit more this go-round.  “I wanted a lot of sex in the sequel, and I wanted more nudity.  I was coming from a really kinky place.”  Can I come visit this place with you, Sharon?

So, I’ll keep Stone and you can drive the Basic Instinct 2 flop of a film off a cliff and see if it can then cause a rise in our pants.

{Source}

 

 

The late summer 2006 release will be a best-of set with episodes chosen by favorite star Pamela Anderson.  I can just see her now, “I’m not sure about that episode, guys.  That is a really bad camera angle on my left hip.” 

Baywatch, which aired from 1989 – 2001 is making new headlines with a big-budget movie in the works.

Following the best-of box set, the complete series will be released on DVD.  I know I’m relieved. 

{Source}