'Kung Fu Panda 2': The Reviews Are In!

One reviewer calls sequel 'both meditative and immensely entertaining.'
By Eric Ditzian

"Kung Fu Panda 2"
Photo: Paramount Pictures

Over at MTV Movies Blog, we've already laid out the five reasons you need to see "Kung Fu Panda 2." From Jack Black's manically hilarious turn as Po to some wickedly creative fight scenes, this sequel is a ton of fun.

But hey, don't just take our word for it. Reviewers are riding high on this animal adventure, a follow-up to DreamWorks' 2008 animated hit, celebrating the lush visuals and the top-notch voice performance Black delivers. Dissenters are few and far between, and their criticisms read more like nitpicking and fail to acknowledge that kids will undoubtedly get a kick out of this flick.

The Story
"Deepening the surprising maturity of its predecessor, the movie successfully takes story beats from classic kung fu stories and dials back on the humor without letting things get too dark and dramatic, creating a work that is both meditative and immensely entertaining. Picking up where the first film left off, Po (Jack Black) has eased into his position as the Dragon Warrior, when the world of kung fu is threatened by the return of Lord Shen (Gary Oldman), a villain who has built a weapon of mass destruction. What Po doesn't know, however, is that Lord Shen holds the key to his history and the knowledge of who he really is. Working with the kung fu masters known as the Furious Five (Angelina Jolie, David Cross, Lucy Liu, Seth Rogen and Jackie Chan), Po is not only on a mission to save China, but on a journey of self-discovery." — Eric Eisenberg, Cinema Blend

The Performances
"Aside from crisp visuals and no-fat way with martial arts movie traditions, the biggest achievement of the 'Kung Fu Panda' movies is how they distill their star's very Jack Black-ness down to its most bearable form. Always the wildest guy in the room, Black has turned into a living 'Gulliver's Travels.' Yet here, as in the first 'KFP,' he gives a charmingly vulnerable but sly vocal performance, with plenty of sass and a decent side order of soul." — Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News

The Visuals
"Director Jennifer Yuh Nelson's background in design and animation seems to have informed the best parts of 'Kung Fu Panda 2' — its splendid palette of color and detail, rich but crisp and balanced (Guillermo del Toro served as a creative consultant, and one of Po's murky, indelible nightmares bears his distinctive mark); and that palette's harmony with both the engaged use of 3-D and the witty and well-defined battle sequences." — Michelle Orange, Movieline

The Dissenters
"This one plays with some unusually dark and upsetting material. Its escalation of evil messes up the high-spirited sweetness that was the most winning feature of the first movie. Po's clumsy, goofy eagerness no longer seems quite as amusing now that he is a psychologically damaged warrior. And his action-team entourage, drawn from various species of animal and movie star — praying mantis, tiger, monkey, etc; Seth Rogen, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, etc. — do more to crowd the picture than to enliven it." — A.O. Scott, The New York Times

The Final Word
"There is a price to be paid for the visual razzle-dazzle — wonderful complexity against a simple story that could have benefited from some bulking up (layered, not longer). Still with Black shelving his usual snark for Po's self-deprecating charm, Jolie making Tigress terrifyingly overqualified for everything as only she can do, Rogen's Mantis showing the actor's growing facility for voicing animation and [Dustin] Hoffman, as ever, the guru everyone wants, they've brought this warrior's tale to kicking, spinning, bone-crunching, feather-flying life." — Betsey Sharkey, Los Angeles Times

Check out everything we've got on "Kung Fu Panda 2."

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

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'Hangover Part II': The Reviews Are In!

'The stock dismissal 'more of the same' has rarely been more accurately applied to a sequel,' one reviewer writes.
By Eric Ditzian

Ed Helms, Bradley Cooper and Zach Galifianakis in "The Hangover Part II"
Photo: Warner Bros.

By this point, if anyone is still doubting whether "The Hangover Part II" will be a massive worldwide hit, Wednesday's midnight screenings should quiet skeptics. Warner Bros. announced that the follow-up to 2009's record-smashing hit roped in $10.4 million in those early showings, setting a new midnight opening record for an R-rated film on its way to what many are predicting will become a $125 million opening over the five-day holiday weekend.

All this box-office talk gets even more impressive when you note reviews for the film have been decidedly mixed. While the first "Hangover" won over both critics and moviegoers, the sequel is currently languishing at just a 31 percent approval at the Rotten Tomatoes review aggregator. Critics have pointed out how the second film follows the plot points of the original far too closely. They've also argued that the sequel simply isn't as funny as the first. Other reviews, however, are still getting a kick out of watching the Wolf Pack flail and fail all over again, similarities are not. Read on for a deep dive into the "Hangover Part II" reviews:

The Story
" 'The Hangover Part II' opts for the most popular cure: the hair of the dog that bit it. In other words, the sequel is almost identical to the first 'Hangover.' This time, dweeby Stu (Ed Helms), slick Phil (Bradley Cooper) and attention sponge Alan (Zach Galifianakis) are at a wedding (Stu's) in Thailand, instead of Las Vegas, but the rest is pretty much the same. The movie starts with the three waking up after a night of debauchery, with one of their pals missing, with a threatening crook on their tails and with vague knowledge of peccadilloes both sexual and chemical. Oh, and Mike Tyson is tangentially involved (Stu has a facial tattoo just like the former champ's). They spend the rest of the movie trying to make it to the wedding while piecing together clues to what happened the previous night and searching desperately for their missing bud." — Chris Hewitt, St. Paul Pioneer Press

The Laughs
"[The] laughs aren't just staged, they're superlatively engineered — even if that means, at moments, that they feel like they're falling into formatted slots. When they don't, the movie can be flat-out hilarious. As the guys begin their desperate search for a missing bank account number (they have to give it to a drug lord or he'll kill them), it's no surprise to discover that they went to a Bangkok strip bar. And when we learn what happened in that club to Stu — who hasn't shaken his tendency to fall drunkenly head over heels in love with hookers — you may see the twist coming, but you won't foresee the casual outrageousness of the dialogue, the kind that keeps on giving. Yet that sort of choke-on-your-popcorn laugh is more the exception than the rule." — Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

The Performances
"Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zach Galifianakis slide into their roles as if they didn't go on to play other characters in the interim, although at least two of the three (Helms being the exception) have seen significant career upticks. Phil is the good-looking leader, Stu is the worry-wart nerd, and Alan is quite possibly the most loathsome individual to have crawled out from under a rock. He's not a loveable loser; he's a detestable loser — and that's where a lot of the comedy comes from. Galifianakis stole the show in 'The Hangover,' and he steals it here. Refreshingly, [director Todd] Phillips does not feel the need to give Alan a heroic moment of redemption." — James Berardinelli, ReelViews

The Comparison
"The stock dismissal 'more of the same' has rarely been more accurately applied to a sequel than to 'The Hangover Part II,' which ranks as little more than a faded copy of its predecessor superimposed on a more brightly colored background. One can understand director Todd Phillips' initial reluctance to tinker with a formula that made the 2009 romp the highest-grossing R-rated comedy ever, but the rote professionalism on display verges on cynicism, and despite some occasional sparks, this ranks as a considerable disappointment. Box office should be huge all the same." — Andrew Barker, Variety

The Final Word
That comfortable air of familiarity provided by the returning characters also extends to many of the original's more inspired bits — but to less potent effect. Still, even a milder 'Hangover' manages to deliver more laughs than most of the competition. ... In addition to that hard-to-replicate element of surprise, also in short supply here is the manic energy that made the original such a delightfully unpredictable ride. The reunited cast looks to have been up for a greater challenge, especially gonzo Galifianakis, who emerged as the breakout star of the first 'Hangover.' " — Michael Rechtshaffen, The Hollywood Reporter

Check out everything we've got on "The Hangover Part II."

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

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Best Flicks for Kids this Summer

Ah, the unofficial start to summer: picnics and barbecues, soft-serve cones and the bevy of feature films for that summer afternoon or evening escape from the heat. But how do you know what’s right and what’s very wrong for the kids to watch?  I bet most parents have had that moment when they realized a movie was not at all age-appropriate a little too late.

For me, it happened with Annie, which I thought would be fine for my 5- and 3-year-old, but the constantly inebriated Miss Hannigan and the scary chase scene where Annie almost falls to her death pushed me to look at the rating on the DVD case.  When I saw PG-13, I thought, “This is not for my kids.”

In fact, our friends at Fandango recently conducted a poll in which 75 percent of respondents say they assume PG-13 rated movies should be suitable for their young children. At the same time, 78 percent felt that PG-rated films are featuring more adult content than ever before.

So what’s a parent to do? Common Sense Media, experts on what’s age-appropriate, gave us some insight into this season’s slate. Based on their analysis, here are a few of our recommendations:

For Kids 3- to 6-years-old
Winnie the Pooh (in theaters July 15). With a G rating, it’s great for preschoolers and promises to be a sweet one for the younger set anxious to see Pooh and his pals.

For Elementary School-Age Kids
Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer (pictured, above left; in theaters June 10). Rated PG-13, it is perfect for elementary schoolers and above -- especially ones who saw Ramona and Beezus last year and loved it. The kids (and parents) who are already fans of the Judy Moody books will love all the wacky hijinks in this flick.

Mr. Popper’s Penguins (in theaters June 17). Starring Jim Carrey and rated PG-13, this should be a crowd pleaser. We can expect a bit of potty humor and maybe some language of the “hell” or “damn” variety, but overall it seems appealing and harmless with all those cute penguins.

Cars 2 (in theaters June 24). Rated G, this movie promises to be a great film for all ages, from the 7-year-olds to the tweens. And yes, with the animation, it’s one that even Mom and Dad will enjoy.

For Tweens and Teens
Green Lantern (in theaters June 17). Starring Ryan Reynolds, last year’s Sexiest Man Alive in People, it’s likely to be a must-see film for comic fans and for fans of the Hollywood hunk. It is rated PG-13, so expect superhero action and violence, but not overly sexual content.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon (in theaters July 1). This movie is really best for teens, but tweens will likely want to see it too, because of the popularity of the toys and TV shows. Parents need to gauge whether their kids are ready for this one. Expect constant action mayhem; plus, hero Sam has a hot new girlfriend, so there may be some sexual situations. 

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (pictured, above right; in theaters July 15). This is the last in the Potter series and promises to be action-filled -- and dark, with characters dying and beloved locations destroyed. Plus, Harry is growing up and making adult decisions. While your 7- or 10-year-old may be an enormous Harry Potter fan, it might be too much for them. This might be one to rent at home later on. If your tween insists, you should think about going with your child just in case.

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How Much Money Did Scotty and Lauren Make from 'American Idol'?

American Idol should be the start of a promising career for newly minted winner Scotty McCreery and runner-up Lauren Alaina. But it's also a payday in itself. So how much dough, exactly, have season 10's top two raked in thanks to their Idol stint?

As we know, the winner of the competition -- that would be McCreery, 17 -- gets the big, juicy recording contract. According to E! Online, that contract is worth $250,000. However, don't cry too much for 16-year-old Lauren! She's taking home $87,500 for her participation. Plus, when she actually records an album, that five-figure sum should jump up to the high six-figure range, probaly around $175,000.

As E! points out, this means that second-place Idol winner Alaina is getting a better contract than the first-place winner of NBC's The Voice, who is promised a $100,000 recording deal. (Of course, that winner also gets a personal celebrity advocate in the mentor they've chosen; we bet a few lunch dates with Christina Aguilera or Cee Lo Green could really boost an upstart's career.) And then there's the super-lucky winner of Fox's The X Factor, who will bring home the biggest prize in reality TV history: a $5 million record deal.

In case you were wondering, Lauren and Scott will not be spending their shared winnings on a big American Idol wedding. Alaina cleared up rumors of a budding romance during a radio interview on Thursday morning.

"No, we're not (dating)," said Alaina. "I was kidding about it last night a lot, but we're just friends."

As for the kisses she planted on "Scotty the Body," that was "just so happy and in the moment" that she got carried away. Too bad -- we think Steven Tyler would make a fabulous maid of honor.

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Producer RedOne Talks Working With J.Lo, Hints At Lil Wayne Collabo

'It's gonna be a surprise,' RedOne tells Mixtape Daily of his reported collaboration with Weezy.
By Rob Markman

RedOne
Photo: MTV News

Behind the Beats: RedOne

RedOne currently is riding high on the success of tracks he's produced for Lady Gaga ("Judas") and Jennifer Lopez (On the Floor"), and the noted knob twiddler is hinting that a Lil Wayne collaboration could be next.

RedOne has worked with a few rappers in the past — Joe Budden spit a verse on the remix he put together for Christina Milian's 2004 track "L.O.V.E." and, of course, Pitbull lent his swag to Lopez's "On the Floor" — but when the subject of Weezy comes up, the producer only teases. "That's it, I'm not saying anymore. It's gonna be a surprise," RedOne tells Mixtape Daily.

RedOne and the rap star already have collaborated on a track by rocker Porcelain Black titled "This Is What Rock N Roll Looks Like." However, when questioned about whether or not he will provide a beat for Tha Carter IV, Red clams up.

He had no problem going on about J.Lo though, for whom he produced several songs featured on her Love? album. "When I met her, I just fell in love with the person. How [much of a] beautiful person she is and a warm person," he gushed. "She has a beautiful family, it's like they have a lot of integrity and love in their surroundings. And I'm very like that."

To hear Red tell it, he and the dancer/ actress/ singer/ "American Idol" judge had some pretty organic recording sessions. The results speak for themselves — "On the Floor" has hit #1 in countries like Australia, Germany, Canada and Italy, and has peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. "I didn't think about anything else but the music and doing what we do," he said of recording with the Bronx bombshell. "And there we go, 'On the Floor,' #1 in the world. Biggest song on the world charts and has been #1 for quite a while."

That's quite a feat, but as we wait for more news about a Wayne collabo to emerge, fans can also expect to hear RedOne's tracks matched with Porcelain Black, his own artist Mohombi and the legendary U2. Rock on!

Would you be interested in hearing a RedOne collaboration with Lil Wayne? Tell us in the comments.

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

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Man Arrested For Threatening To Bomb Two And A Half Men

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Robert Pattinson In 'Cosmopolis': First Look!

RPattz and co-star Sarah Gadon appear to be in the back of a cab in photo from David Cronenberg movie.
By Eric Ditzian

Robert Pattinson and Sarah Gadon in "Cosmopolis"
Photo: Caitlin Cronenberg's Twitter

Robert Pattinson spent eight months on the set of "Breaking Dawn" and was immediately pulled from the set to begin his whirlwind press duties for "Water for Elephants" last month. After perhaps just enough time to take a quick nap, RPattz is now back on a new set: "Cosmopolis," director David Cronenberg's adaptation of the slim Don DeLillo novel.

With production under way, Cronenberg's daughter has posted the first look at Pattinson and Sarah Gadon in character. The photo appears to capture the duo in a cab, though the great majority of the action, or lack thereof, in the book takes place in a limousine. Pattinson plays Eric Packer, a young and rich asset manager who, over the course of one day, manages to lose millions of dollars yet remain oddly detached from it all as his limo plods through horrendous New York City traffic. Gadon portrays Elise, a rich and beautiful heiress who is married to Packer but who doesn't seem to care for him very much at all and who certainly won't sleep with him.

"I had read the script about eight months ago and thought, 'Wow, this is something that hasn't been made in a long time,' "Pattinson told MTV News in March. "Which I think, like 'Water for Elephants' as well, I'm just trying to find that kind of stuff, because what else is the point? There's so much generic, everything's the same. So you might as well attempt to try something different."

When we caught up with him again in April, Rob revealed that he'd been working with a dialect coach to achieve a "very specific accent." But he still hadn't spoken with Gadon about the upcoming project. "I've seen a couple of things she's done," he said. "She's really good."

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

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Lee DeWyze" Did He Refuse to Present 'Idol' Winner Trophy?

Dedicated American Idol fans may have been surprised to see season 9 winner Lee DeWyze hanging out in the audience during the season 10 finale -- especially since he didn't perform, was seated way back in the fifth row, and wasn't even acknowledged by Ryan Seacrest on the air. What happened to the tradition of featuring previous Idols on the finale? The answer to that depends on whose Twitter account you believe.

According to executive producer Nigel Lythgoe, Lee DeWyze declined an offer to present the trophy to this year's winner, Scotty McCreery.

"I was so upset Lee DeWyze wouldn't present the winners trophy to Scotty," Lythgoe tweeted on Thursday. "Especially as he'd been on the show this Season. I guess he was shy."

DeWyze, however, tells a different story. A few days before the finale, he wrote that he wouldn't be performing because "I wasn't asked to." Then after Lythgoe's dis on Thursday, DeWyze returned to Twitter to tell his side of the story.

"Hey everyone, first off I want to say congrats to Scotty & Lauren, awesome job," the guitar-playing Idol alum tweeted. "Well done Scotty! Secondly, just for the record... I was not asked to be involved in the Finale. It wasn't until about 2 minutes before they announced that Nigel had approached me and asked if he could 'borrow' me for a second.  I didnt feel a last second jump on stage was appropriate. It was Scotty's moment."

"I appreciate American Idol, and the opportunity it has given me. And the people who have made that show possible," DeWyze continued. "I am not angry, or bitter etc. It was an amazing Finale, and I would have loved to be a part of it. I just wasnt asked. Good luck to all the Contestants and stay true to yourself. Thanks everyone for your support, tour coming up... Good times :) I'll talk to you all soon. Love ya!"

Honest, but gracious. Well said, Lee.

This mini-drama is reminiscent of last year's kerfuffle over Adam Lambert's absence from the season 9 finale. The 2009 runner-up was supposedly cut from the Simon Cowell tribute number due to laryngitis, but he stated on Twitter that he "would have loved" to perform and wasn't asked. Sure, Lambert wasn't a first-place winner, but he's one of Idol's most successful graduates. In the future, we hope that the producers have a little more respect for these talented kids than they showed DeWyze and Lambert.

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Robert Pattinson In 'Cosmopolis': First Look!

RPattz and co-star Sarah Gadon appear to be in the back of a cab in photo from David Cronenberg movie.
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Photo: Caitlin Cronenberg's Twitter

Robert Pattinson spent eight months on the set of "Breaking Dawn" and was immediately pulled from the set to begin his whirlwind press duties for "Water for Elephants" last month. After perhaps just enough time to take a quick nap, RPattz is now back on a new set: "Cosmopolis," director David Cronenberg's adaptation of the slim Don DeLillo novel.

With production under way, Cronenberg's daughter has posted the first look at Pattinson and Sarah Gadon in character. The photo appears to capture the duo in a cab, though the great majority of the action, or lack thereof, in the book takes place in a limousine. Pattinson plays Eric Packer, a young and rich asset manager who, over the course of one day, manages to lose millions of dollars yet remain oddly detached from it all as his limo plods through horrendous New York City traffic. Gadon portrays Elise, a rich and beautiful heiress who is married to Packer but who doesn't seem to care for him very much at all and who certainly won't sleep with him.

"I had read the script about eight months ago and thought, 'Wow, this is something that hasn't been made in a long time,' "Pattinson told MTV News in March. "Which I think, like 'Water for Elephants' as well, I'm just trying to find that kind of stuff, because what else is the point? There's so much generic, everything's the same. So you might as well attempt to try something different."

When we caught up with him again in April, Rob revealed that he'd been working with a dialect coach to achieve a "very specific accent." But he still hadn't spoken with Gadon about the upcoming project. "I've seen a couple of things she's done," he said. "She's really good."

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Jennifer Lopez Loses Court Battle Over Home Video

She?s been battling with her ex-husband, Ojani Noa, for her years about the release of a private home video, but it sounds like Jennifer Lopez has lost the fight.

According to Radar Online, the ?Dance For Your Papi? singer will face a huge embarrassment when Noa releases an intimate home video of the former couple, who was married for a brief time.

Apparently, Ojani managed to find a loophole in the law and sold the footage to his current girlfriend, Claudia Vazquez for her to release it on his behalf.

Ed Meyer, the executive producer of the project tells RadarOnline, "Claudia Vazquez has been allowed to release the home videos of Ojani and Jennifer. The project will deal with JLo's rise to fame, and her marriage to Ojani. Claudia will be meeting with video distributors on Tuesday, and hopefully, a deal can be made very soon."

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How Much Money Did Scotty and Lauren Make from 'American Idol'?

American Idol should be the start of a promising career for newly minted winner Scotty McCreery and runner-up Lauren Alaina. But it's also a payday in itself. So how much dough, exactly, have season 10's top two raked in thanks to their Idol stint?

As we know, the winner of the competition -- that would be McCreery, 17 -- gets the big, juicy recording contract. According to E! Online, that contract is worth $250,000. However, don't cry too much for 16-year-old Lauren! She's taking home $87,500 for her participation. Plus, when she actually records an album, that five-figure sum should jump up to the high six-figure range, probaly around $175,000.

As E! points out, this means that second-place Idol winner Alaina is getting a better contract than the first-place winner of NBC's The Voice, who is promised a $100,000 recording deal. (Of course, that winner also gets a personal celebrity advocate in the mentor they've chosen; we bet a few lunch dates with Christina Aguilera or Cee Lo Green could really boost an upstart's career.) And then there's the super-lucky winner of Fox's The X Factor, who will bring home the biggest prize in reality TV history: a $5 million record deal.

In case you were wondering, Lauren and Scott will not be spending their shared winnings on a big American Idol wedding. Alaina cleared up rumors of a budding romance during a radio interview on Thursday morning.

"No, we're not (dating)," said Alaina. "I was kidding about it last night a lot, but we're just friends."

As for the kisses she planted on "Scotty the Body," that was "just so happy and in the moment" that she got carried away. Too bad -- we think Steven Tyler would make a fabulous maid of honor.

Busy Philipps Cameron Diaz Cameron Richardson Camilla Belle

It's a Royal Affair...

... in Brooklyn!

Bev has decided to wear an asymmetrical fascinator to celebrate Kate and Wills' big day, while Mary opted for a hat with a little tropical flavor.

Cheerio!

(By the way, this wasn't an easy photo to get:)

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Jennifer Aniston is ?totally into? Justin Theroux

The former ‘Friends’ star – who was previously married to Brad Pitt and has dated Vince Vaughn and John Mayer – is said to be smitten with the ‘Your Highness’ actor and can’t stand being apart from him. A friend of the 42-year-old star – who first met Justin on the set of movie ‘Wonderlust’ [...]

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New Hollywood Couples Alert: Just A Summer Fling?

We have the 411 on Hollywood?s new couples! Is it just a summer fling or a serious thing? Get the scoop below on Leonardo and Blake, with a rumored Bar Rafeal on the horizon?! Leighton and Justin’s dinner out! And a new Twilight romance brewing. But what’s this about Greene still dating Kings of Leon’s Jared Followill? Plus news surrounding Bradley Cooper and Olivia Wilde at the Hangover premiere. Get the details below. With Summer now in full swing, there is sure to be new hook-ups and terrible break-ups in Tinseltown. Who’s on, and who’s off when it comes to some of your favorites stars? Well, we didn?t see this coming! Leonardo DiCaprio and Gossip Girls Blake Lively are involved in what some are saying is a hot new romance. When have they crossed paths prior? How did they get together? If they are, that is! According to reports, the twenty-three year old Blake, and the thirty-six year old Leonardo (who recently split from long time girlfriend Bar Rafael) were seen in Italy, walking around together, and holding hands while sight seeing. After being introduced to one another by director Baz Luhrmann last year, they were also recently spotted on [...]

Heidi Montag Hilarie Burton Hilary Duff Hilary Swank

Linkin Park To Headline 'Transformers' Premiere In Moscow

Band will play a 'Dark of the Moon'-themed outdoor concert on June 23.
By Eric Ditzian

Linkin Park's Chester Bennington
Photo: John Shearer/ Wireimage.com

"Transformers: Dark of the Moon" promises to dive deeply into the franchise's mythology, reaching back to America's 1960s-era space race with the Soviets to expand upon humanity's contact with the alien robots. The new film will also stay true to the musical roots it laid down in 2007, when Linkin Park contributed the opening song to the film's soundtrack, as the band will not only contribute again to the soundtrack but, in a newly announced move, will perform in Moscow for the flick's premiere.

Linkin Park will perform in an outdoor concert at Vasilyevsky Spusk of the Red Square, with the Kremlin and St. Basil's Basilica looming in the background, on June 23, Paramount said in a press release. The concert coincides with the world premiere of "Dark of the Moon" at the Moscow International Film Festival.

During the show, LP is set to play "Iridescent," a remix of their Thousand Suns tune that is the end title song for "Dark of the Moon." Earlier this year, MTV News visited the set of the band's music video for the track.

"When Michael Bay called us about putting a song in the new 'Transformers' movie, the one that came immediately to mind was 'Iridescent' because it's been a fan favorite at the shows," vocalist Mike Shinoda told us. "It's definitely a less in-your-face song. There's a somber tone to it and a hopeful tone to it. ... Michael actually loved pairing it with the movie because there's something that he feels it speaks to about the story line."

The collaboration marks the third straight time the band has been involved with the franchise. LP's "What I've Done," a double-platinum single off and their multiplatinum Minutes to Midnight, was featured on the first film's soundtrack. And the second film, "Revenge of the Fallen," included "New Divide," a tune that has been downloaded more than 3 million times and spent three months at the top of the Billboard rock chart.

LP's Moscow concert falls in the midst of their European summer tour, which kicks off in Austria on June 11 and continues through Germany, Italy, France and other locales before wrapping up in London on July 4. The 3-D "Dark of the Moon," meanwhile, hits U.S. theaters on June 29 — two days earlier than originally planned.

Check out everything we've got on "Transformers: Dark of the Moon."

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

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Lauren Alaina's "Like My Mother Does" Performance

American Idol's final face-off between Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery was almost over before it began. In a nail-biting situation, the 16-year-old southern belle needed emergency medical treatment to treat her laryngitis just before taking the stage at the Nokia theater Tuesday night.

Third-place finisher Haley Reinhart was ready and waiting on deck to jump in and compete against McCreery in the event that Lauren was too ill to sing. But Alaina was treated by a medic for the blown vocal cord and prepped herself for the finale.

"I'm here, I'm ready to sing and I'm fine," Alaina told host Ryan Seacrest at the beginning of the show. "Don't worry about it."

And there was certainly nothing to worry about. Alaina came out of the gates with three stellar performances, singing "Flat on the Floor," "Maybe It Was Memphis" and what will be her new single if she wins, "Like My Mother Does."

But country boy McCreery, 17, was no slouch either. The wholesome crooner brought the crowd to their feet with renditions of "Gone," "Check Yes or No" and his single-to-be, "I Love You This Big."

After all the singing was done, judges Steven Tyler, Randy Jackson and Jennifer Lopez commended both young contestants, but all three seemed to be leaning in Alaina's favor. After performing the sentimental ode to her mom, Tyler said Lauren won it "hands down." Lopez added, "With that song, you may have just won." 

The two-hour, all-star American Idol finale airs tonight at 8 p.m. on Fox. Who do you think will take the cake?

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Lindsay Lohan Loses Her Bikini Top In The Ocean

Lindsay Lohan just can’t catch a break. The 24-year-old was left red faced in Miami Beach yesterday when her bikini top fell down while she was frolicking in the surf. She attempted to preserve her modesty by wrapping her arms across her chest but she failed to cover up the wardrobe malfunction. The Mean Girls [...]

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Armie Hammer Talks Up His 'Snow White' Prince, Says We Won't See 'Lone Ranger' For Two Years

Ever since he graced the screen with his chiseled good looks and cocky swagger in "The Social Network," Armie Hammer has become quite a hot Hollywood commodity - and deservedly so. Who doesn't love his "I'm 6'5," 220 pounds and there are two of me" line?
The sudden superstar has three buzzworthy projects on his docket: [...]

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'Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides': The Reviews Are In!

Some critics complain it's 'overstuffed' and 'dismal,' while others call it 'bracingly exhilarating.'
By Eric Ditzian

Johnny Depp in "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides"
Photo: Peter Mountain/Disney

To truly understand the global success of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise — because who, honestly, can wrap his head around a figure as large as $2.7 billion, the series' worldwide box-office haul? — one might do well to pay attention to the slightly smaller figure of Johnny Depp's paycheck for playing Captain Jack Sparrow.

"It must be kind of nice for him to know that he can revisit this every two or three years and be paid more than the national debt of most countries," new co-star Ian McShane joked to the Los Angeles Times during an interview in Cannes last week.

OK, so McShane is exaggerating just a tad, but the point is that over the course of three films (even though the last two had decidedly mixed reviews), the "Pirates" films have managed to stay remarkably popular — especially considering they're based on a hokey, '60s-era amusement-park attraction. The newest installment, "On Stranger Tides," shows little sign of a dent in that "Pirates" popularity, despite once again facing a mixed critical assessment. Its two-day international gross stands at almost $44 million, and domestically, it's expected to reel in around $100 million over opening weekend.

The movie-going public, it appears, doesn't always heed the critics. Not that the pros seem to care, as many of them have taken issue with a bursting-at-the-seams plot, disappointing 3-D, and a long running time. But other reviewers have called "Stranger Tides" the finest film in the series since the original, celebrating the new characters and the carefree energy to which every summer blockbuster should aspire. Read on for a deep dive into the flick's reviews.

The Story
"[T]he goal here is the Fountain of Youth, though it takes about an hour for things to get there; first we have to start off in London, watch Jack make another one of his daring escapes, hook him up with his old pirate flame Angelica (Penelope Cruz) who tosses him on board the Queen Anne's Revenge ship piloted by her father Blackbeard (Ian McShane), who — a ha! — is in search of the Fountain of Youth. So is King George (Richard Griffiths), as revealed just before that daring escape, and he's sent the pirate-turned-privateer Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) on the quest as well. The Spanish Armada is actually out there too, but the plot is so overstuffed the film doesn't really worry about them until the third act, so forget about them for now." — Katey Rich, Cinema Blend

The Franchise Comparison
"[T]he fourth installment dispels many fans' trepidation regarding sequels and the diminishing returns they so often represent. The legions of filmgoers who have made the 'Pirates' movies such a box office behemoth needn't worry. 'On Stranger Tides' feels as fresh and bracingly exhilarating as the day Jack Sparrow first swashed his buckle, infusing new reckless energy into a franchise that shows no signs of furling its sails." — Ann Hornaday, The Washington Post

The Performances
"Depp remains the face of the film, and has lost little enthusiasm for his mincing derring-do. But a majority of his thunder is co-opted by an on-point Rush, who not only gets the funniest lines and reaction shots, but also starts to siphon away much of the roguish charm that used to be Depp's stock and trade. McShane, on the other hand, is underwhelming. Never appearing comfortable in his heavy pirate get-up, his tired Blackbeard is only menacing via other characters' testimonials to his evil, and his one onscreen atrocity seems tossed in merely to stress that he is, in fact, the bad guy. Cruz is a reliably welcome, gorgeous presence, though she too often falls back on the 'feisty Latina' signifiers that have been the crutch of so much of her English-language work." — Andrew Barker, Variety

The Visuals
"Now if all that sounds like a promising place to work a lot of 3-D magic, then boy are you in for a major letdown. The Ds in this instance stand for dark and dismal and disastrously claustrophobic. The production design is strangely ancient, as if the actors stumbled onto a sound stage filled with old props. Even the Fountain of Youth, the object of everyone's desire, looks as if it were carved out of gray Styrofoam. And that, mateys, is no way to steer a ship. Aargh." — Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times

The Final Word
"['On Stranger Tides'] is really quite long at just over two and a quarter hours, and some fans might feel that they are getting an awful lot of a good thing. But director Rob Marshall keeps the hellzapoppin' atmosphere bubbling and gives you plenty of cannon-bang and cutlass-slash for your buck. ... Some might find their enthusiasm for the 'Pirates' films sinking. I have to say that mine is still there, just about. Depp's Sparrow is a genuinely funny character and Depp still puts the ho-ho into yo-ho-ho." — Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

Check out everything we've got on "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides."

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

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Kylie Minogue Has Got ?LOVE? For The Beatles & Cirque Du Soleil

Kylie Minogue may have ended the North American leg of her Aphrodite Live 2011 Tour in Las Vegas, NV on Sunday night but Kylie decided to stick around Sin City for a bit longer to enjoy the fun of LV. Kylie and her friends — including her parents Carol Ann & Ronald Minogue and her [...]

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'DWTS' Recap: Season 12, Episode 18

Tom and Brooke reminds us that it's the finals and then introduce the couples. And then it's that thing where one of the judges visits each couple to give them advice. Do they need advice at this point? They made it to the finals. Shouldn't they just do more of the same?

Carrie Ann is going in to see Mark and Chelsea, and the judges have assigned them the samba. Carrie Ann tells Chelsea that her last samba was a little too perky, and they want this one to be more sensual. She shows Chelsea what she means, and Chelsea seems to get it. Will she take these lessons with her during her routine?

CLICK TO READ THE FULL RECAP

Watch full episode:

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Anna Kournikova to Join 'The Biggest Loser'?

As The Biggest Loser finishes out its eleventh season, viewers are left to wonder, "What will the show be like next year, without Jillian Michaels?"

Michaels, the big-name fitness expert who's become the face of the series, is leaving the show for a seat at the table on CBS's The Doctors, a correspondent gig on Dr. Phil and for more time to focus on family. But not to worry, Loser fans -- producers reportedly have another big name showing up next season, and she's got the know-how to whip contestants into shape. It's Russian tennis star and model, Anna Kournikova.

It's reported that an official announcement about the hiring will come after tomorrow's The Biggest Loser season finale (NBC, 8 p.m. ET). Kournikova, who's also known for her nearly-10-year relationship with singer Enrique Iglesias, will bring star power to Season 12's lineup, which is set to include two new fitness experts: Cara Castronuova and Brett Hoebel. Click here for more on them.

Kournikova just made news for putting her Miami mansion on the market for a cool $9.4 million. The listing fueled rumors that she might be marrying her long-time beau, Iglesias. (Click here to see their steamy video together for Iglesias' song, "Escape.")

Sure, the couple may have wedded bliss on their minds, but now we know the main reason she's selling the house: The Biggest Loser films in California.

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?X-Men: First Class? Releases A Whole Bunch Of International Posters

Last month we got to see a really cool poster for X-Men: First Class … which was a sight for sore eyes considering some of the really bad poster artwork that has been released for the prequel film (due out next month). Today we get to see a whole slew of new international posters and, [...]

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Black Eyed Peas Continue Pop Dominance at Billboard Awards

The Black Eyed Peas performed their epic hit Just Can?t Get Enough along with I Gotta Feeling at this year?s Billboard Music Awards, showing fans why they always stay on top of the charts. They first got my attention with Where?s The Love. It was an awesome break from some of the pointless music at the time. For a while I thought they would fall off and stop making hits, but surprisingly they just kept releasing hit single after hit single. Tonight?s performance was incredible. It began with Will.I.Am on the piano and Fergie singing the opening chorus of Just Can?t Get Enough. The hook on that song is hypnotizing to me, and is one of my favorite songs of the year. Her dress was also amazing. It had some kind of light strips running across it like a circuit board. I love how futuristic they dress, it seems like something out of a science fiction movie every time I see them. The only thing that bothers me is the heavy auto-tune. Sure, they use it in a way that is far better than someone like Kanye West or even T-Pain, but when they perform live it really takes away [...]

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'Dark Knight Rises' Production Kicks Off With First Official Photo

Photo released by Warner Bros. features heavily muscled villain Bane, played by 'Inception' vet Tom Hardy.
By Eric Ditzian

Tom Hardy as Bane in "The Dark Knight Rises"
Photo: Warner Bros

Better late than never, right? We had hoped and assumed Christopher Nolan's third "Batman" flick was going to kick off production not too long after "The Dark Knight" wrapped up its record-breaking run in 2008. Instead, the filmmaker pushed forward with "Inception," and as even the most diehard Bat-fan must surely admit, Nolan's twisty dream-world thriller was quite a fine cinematic diversion.

Now though, principal photography on Nolan's third and reportedly final Caped Crusader flick — "The Dark Knight Rises" — has officially begun, with the production expected to span three continents, from India, Scotland and England to Pittsburgh, New York and Los Angeles. And to celebrate this highly anticipated beginning, Warner Bros. has released the film's first official photo and fired up a viral marketing campaign.

The photo features Bane, the heavily muscled villain played by "Inception" vet Tom Hardy. With Bane bathed in shadows, his back to the camera and a freaky mask on his head, the pic offers an excellent introduction to a character not very well known to the masses but one who is cherished by comic-book fans.

The Bane photo was the payoff of a brand-new viral effort that began with a muffled audio file on the film's official website. Savvy technophiles were able to analyze the audio and discover a Twitter hashtag (#thefirerises) and account, which in turn led to the discovery of a hidden image at Thedarkknightrises.com. Expect the marketing campaign to continue for quite a while — the film doesn't hit theaters until July 20, 2012. "We're very much excited about really finishing a trilogy and giving a conclusion to our story," Nolan told us in February. "And that's what we're doing."

Check out everything we've got on "The Dark Knight Rises."

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

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Les News, 052311

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides was the #1 movie at the box office this weekend, taking in over $90 million. Can we PLEASE stop listening to crazy people like Harold Camping? A new Twilight romance? Will sharks one day rule the world? THIS woman dares to defy the law … by driving. Why [...]

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Mischa Barton Takes Looking Ridiculous To A Whole New Level

Mischa Barton has worn some fugly clothes over the years … from THIS horrible polka dot peek-a-boo dress to THIS skunk-inspired ensemble. This week, she take ridiculous fugliness to a whole new level. Mischa decided to wear a pair of over sized glasses with a red and white striped outfit and, well, she looked just [...]

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The Birth Certificates Of Mariah Carey?s Twins Have Been Released

Last weekend, Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon left the hospital with their twin babies Monroe and Moroccan Scott and while we are still waiting for the first photos of the little ones, today we do get to check out their birth certificates. That’s right, as a matter of public record, the birth certificates of Roc [...]

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'Pirates Of The Caribbean' Stunts, Effects And Other Secrets Revealed!

From Johnny Depp's escape from a burning lighthouse to the creation of mermaids for the movie, visual-effects master Charlie Gibson gives us the lowdown.
By Eric Ditzian

Johnny Depp
Photo: MTV News

It's one thing to watch an eye-popping scene in a CG-laden blockbuster and go, "How the heck did they do that?" It's quite another to have the filmmakers behind those scenes pull back the cinematic curtain and explain what it took to put the footage up onscreen.

That's exactly what we've been doing for some of the biggest movies in Hollywood, from a cinematographer breaking down that epic hallway fight scene in "Inception," to a visual-effects supervisor detailing the digital creation of a young Jeff Bridges in "Tron," to a director walking us through how to build a scream-inducing sequence in "Paranormal Activity 2."

Now we turn our attention to "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" and visual-effects supervisor Charlie Gibson to find out the secrets behind some of the new film's most stunning scenes, from Johnny Depp's perilous dive from a flaming lighthouse to an action sequence in which beautiful but dangerous mermaids go on the attack.

The Fiery Lighthouse
Depp is well into his late 40s, but he still took on a range of stunt work in "Stranger Tides." For some scenes, though, he deferred to stunt double Christopher Leps. But other scenes were so perilous, the only safe choice was computer technology. In what Gibson called one of the film's most challenging visual effects, filmmakers had to capture Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow leaping from a flaming lighthouse and into the water below. To reach that point, they integrated the two men's work with the capabilities of CGI.

"We had these guys come in with a full-body scanner and we grabbed Johnny after dinner and put him on a turntable and scanned him in so his likeness is in the computer," Gibson explained. "Then in the computer, we match his clothing and his hair and all the details from the scene, blending his actions and matching what he does before and after the scene. We'll have different pieces that we've shot all over the world. Some at Universal in [Los Angeles], some shot in a water tank at Pinewood Studios in London, and then the animated performance."

It's a bit like a virtual patchwork blanket — a labor-intensive process with so many different elements that, in the end, stitches together to create a unified, impressive whole. A veteran in dealing with this sort of thing, Depp was happy to go along for the ride. "He's good with it. We try to be quick with the scan," Gibson said. "But he's a good sport."

The Mermaids

One of the film's most visually impressive scenes comes when Sparrow and his pirate pals find their way into a cove filled with mermaids. Lovely to look at, with their half-fish, half-human forms, the mermaids will attack when threatened. Creating them was no easy task.

"We didn't want to bother with any kind of makeup or animatronic approach," Gibson explained. "And we had this rule where the waterline defined where the mermaid stopped and started. So we knew we'd be showing a hybrid, and we had to come up with a very flexible solution."

"On the other movies, we were able to use these [motion-capture] tracking pajamas for certain characters," he added. "But when you have a naked mermaid, there are not a lot of tracking pajamas you can use. For the models playing the mermaids, we used these transfer tattoos where we put tracking marks on their skin and [Industrial Light & Magic] developed these skimpy bathing suits. We basically glued the [CGI] mermaid onto their bodies. When the mermaids were being played by the stunt performers or synchronized swimmers for acrobatic stuff, we used thicker wetsuits."

The Ship Comes Alive

As you might remember from various trailers, "Pirates" features a ship that essentially comes alive, as the villain Blackbeard (Ian McShane) controls the sails and riggings. He's able to garner control of the vessel simply by moving his sword, as ropes fly about and toss sailors to and fro. The scene gets even more impressive when you realize it was done almost entirely through practical stunt work.

"That scene was 80 percent stunt performing," Gibson told us. "Those guys were really flying through the air. We threw some flying ropes in there and erased their stunt rigs. It's exciting to watch even before we go in and sweeten it."

"When the boat breathes fire, that's a collaboration between us and the practical effects guys," he added. "We add in more fire, bring it closer to the performer. When the fire is really there, you see it reflected in the water and the people's faces and it looks 100 times more real."

The Fountain of Youth

The driving story of the film is the quest for the Fountain of Youth. When Jack and his cohorts first arrive at what they believe to be the fountain's location, they don't see much. But further investigation shows them it's been hiding there all along — the setting magically floods with water and the fountain is revealed. It's a dazzling bit of visual-effects work, with gravity playing all sorts of tricks and the water seeming to have an intelligence all its own. To get the scene right, Gibson and his team turned to Scanline VFX, an effects house nominated at this year's Oscars.

"I wanted to find a way to have the entrance to the fountain be in plain sight but somehow not be there. People have been looking for it for years but somehow haven't found it. Why did they find it and why now?" Gibson said. "We were lucky enough to hook up with these great water people, the same guys who did the huge tsunami for 'Hereafter.' What they came up with was amazing."

Check out everything we've got on "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides."

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

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WWE Pays Tribute To Randy Savage

WWE has paid tribute to Randy ‘Macho Man’ Savage, saying the wrestling legend will be “greatly missed”. After the 58-year-old champion was killed yesterday when he suffered a heart attack at the wheel of his car – of which his wife of just over a year Lynn Payne was also a passenger, but escaped with [...]

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Taylor Swift's 'The Story Of Us' Video To Debut Tuesday On MTV

On-air debut at 7:53 p.m. ET will be followed by live 'MTV First' interview with Swift on MTV.com!
By Jocelyn Vena

Taylor Swift in "The Story Of Us"
Photo: Big Machine Records

Taylor Swift has always had fun in her music videos. Whether she's a geeky schoolgirl-turned-glamour queen in her VMA-winning video for "You Belong With Me" or a forlorn lover in a snow-covered farmhouse in her "Back to December" clip, Swift has always tried to show off different sides of herself.

Now she's teaming up with MTV News for "MTV First: Taylor Swift," where she'll not only have an exclusive sit-down with our very own Sway, but also premiere the video for her Speak Now single "The Story of Us."

It all kicks off on Tuesday, May 24, at 7:53 p.m. ET on MTV and MTV.com. Fans can tune in to see Swift introduce the video's official premiere and speak with Sway live on-air. Sway and Taylor will then continue their chat for a 30-minute live stream on MTV.com. The singer will answer a few questions from fans too. Beginning on Friday (May 20), you can submit your pressing queries on MTV.com or via Twitter using @MTVNews (hashtag #AskTaylor).

This Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET, the music video will debut online on MTV.com, VH1.com and MTV's International Sites in 150+ territories, followed by a premiere on TeenNick at 10:56 p.m. ET. For those who can't wait for the video premiere, a 30-second sneak peek of "The Story of Us" will air during VH1's "Big Morning Buzz Live" on Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. ET/PT. The full video will also appear on "VH1 Top 20 Video Countdown" on Saturday, May 28, at 9 a.m. ET/PT.

"The Story of Us" is the fourth single from Swift's chart-topping album. It follows "Mine," "Back to December" and her country-tinged track "Mean." As for this song, well, she explains that it was inspired by one awkward awards show encounter.

"That actually happened during what ended up inspiring the last song I wrote for this record called 'Story of Us,' "Swift explained to MTV News last year about the song. "And I was at an awards show, and there was a guy there, obviously — it all starts there, doesn't it? It was a guy I had been in a relationship with, falling out, then we end up at the same awards show," she continued. "Both trying to act like we don't care ... both like, you know, chatting up the people next to us."

After the incident, she knew there was enough emotion there to write a song. "Afterward, I just felt so empty, like we were both fighting this silent war of pretending we didn't care that the other was there," she said. "And I went home, and I wrote this song about it. And at that point, I had this gut feeling, and I knew the album was finished."

Don't miss the premiere of Taylor Swift's "The Story of Us" video, on Tuesday, May 24, at 7:53 p.m. ET on MTV, followed by our live "MTV First" interview with Taylor Swift on MTV.com!

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Janet Jackson Fashion Fail At amfAR?s Cinema Against AIDS Gala

Janet Jackson is a drop dead gorgeous diva, but her outfit for the amfAR?s Cinema Against AIDS Gala completely missed the mark. Now usually things with Miss Janet are either hit or miss, lucky for her she is Janet Freakin? Jackson, so even if she has the occasional fail, she is still a super star. So I don?t feel so bad ragging on this outfit, that is just a hot mess. Everything from head to toe is completely wrong. It looks like she is wearing silk sheets! And two different colors at that. Not to mention her hair. Oh girl. She is a sweetie though, and we should cut her some slack. It was for charity after all. She tweeted, ?Hey u guys! Thank u for the wonderful gift of support to @amfAR n for all your birthday wishes. I love u!? What do you guys think? Photos: www.wenn.com/Lia Toby

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Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian Talk Drama

From giving birth to getting waxed, the Kardashian sisters have pretty much bared it all for the cameras. For the past five years, Kourtney, Kim and Khloe Kardashian have shared their lives -- the good, the bad and the hilarious -- with the world on their multiple reality shows. In fact, Khloe (whose new E!  show Khloe & Lamar delves into her life as a newlywed with NBA star Lamar Odom) admits she'd do pretty much anything on camera -- except have sex!

iVillage caught up with Kourtney, 32, and Khloe, 26, at the John Frieda mobile hair salon in New York City's Times Square recently to dish about their most embarrassing onscreen moments, their beauty secrets and why Khloe and Lamar's relationship is sometimes too cute. (Just ask Rihanna!)

You're both pretty open on your reality shows. Is there anything you won’t do on camera?

Khloe: Just me having sex. That’s pretty much it. Everything else pretty much goes! I mean, we’ve done it for so long and our shows are pure reality. We give you 7 days a week -- minimum of 12, max of 18 hours a day -- for three to four months at a time. There’s not much room to hold anything back.

So, there's no scripted drama?

Khloe: We’re brothers and sisters and family, and we live together so there’s no need for all that. There's already so much drama happening between us as a family.

Are you ever embarrassed after watching the show?

Kourtney: Not really. It’s just weird when I meet people, and I forget that they’ve seen so much of my life. They’ve seen me give birth and they’ve seen me crying and they’ve seen me fighting with this person or that person. I just meet people as if they don’t know anything about me, and it’s just weird if I think of that.
Khloe: (The most embarrassing thing I've done on camera was) probably my (bikini) waxing -- when Kourtney waxed me. Like, why the hell would you do that on camera?
Kourt: Because it’s fun!
Khloe: But I never sit and think "X amount of viewers are watching the show." When you’re filming it’s not a big deal, but when you’re watching you’re like,  "Oh my god, I can’t believe that many people are going to watch me get a bikini wax."

Khloe, you and Lamar are so cute on your show. What did you think when your pal Rihanna jokingly tweeted that you guys make her want to barf?

Kourtney: She did?
Khloe: Yeah, I think she tweeted, "You guys really make me want to barf." And she went on Ryan Seacrest and they talked about it. She was like, "They’re just too freaking cute that I hate them."

Kourtney, do you ever feel that way when you’re around them?

Kourtney: No, I feel like I literally have seen Lamar for maybe ten minutes of my life. Whenever I see Khloe she’s alone.
Khloe: It’s because he’s always in season and Kourtney never goes to a game because she won’t bring (her 1-year-old son) Mason.
Kourtney: We’ve talked on the phone more than we’ve seen each other.

Khloe, is it ever hard for you and Lamar to have alone time with Rob living in your house?

Khloe: It used to definitely be. We were newly married and Rob just moved in, and he had no boundaries. But now Robert really gets it. But Jamie, Lamar’s best friend (who appears on Khloe & Lamar), is more annoying than anything. I’m like "Oh my God, get a f**king life … boundaries! You’re 32 years old. How do you not know to get away from me?" He annoys me more than Rob right now. Robert is 24 but he gets it. He’s learned that we need our quiet time. Jamie is like a leech; he just sits there and sucks on our skin.

You two are here for the John Frieda Salon Tour to show your fans how you get your hair looking so great. So, which of the sisters takes the longest to get ready?

Kourtney: It’s Kim. I’m the shortest. When I start adding up the amount of time it takes to get ready -- and then I times it by seven and then I times it by 52 -- it freaks me out. I just have a crazy mental problem, and I’m like “You have to live your life. You can’t just sit and get your hair and makeup done!" And with Mason, too, I just like easy hair and makeup.
Khloe: Kim is a perfectionist, so when she gets her hair done she needs every piece and strand to be perfect. But she loves it. I get annoyed sitting there and I get antsy, but I take longer than Kourt. Kourt will be like "Thirty minutes, that’s all you have. Figure it out." And she’ll really leave. If they’re not finished, she’ll be like "I’m done!"

Have you picked up tips to do your hair faster?
Kourtney: When I’m just by myself and I’m not doing anything I just take a shower, brush my hair, and let it dry. But if I’m trying to do it, I try and slick it up into a bun. And then John Frieda actually has this wand, Full Repair Flyaway Tamer, and it’s to help get your little extra pieces that maybe didn’t get into your hair. That's so helpful for me.

You're both really into hair and fashion. Would you rather shave your head or give up your whole wardrobe?
Kourtney: I would say give up my wardrobe.
Khloe: Shave my head. I could wear a wig!

Ali Gray is iVillage's Associate Entertainment Editor. Follow her on Twitter: @thealigray

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