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Monday, June 2, 2014

Latest Movie News From Moviefone

Latest Movie News From Moviefone

The 10 Best Kids Movies Ever

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best kids movies

Long before we ever saw a film by Tarantino, Scorsese, Kubrick, or Coppola; or held our breaths during our first horror flick; or held hands with a crush through a romantic comedy, we watched movies aimed at kids. The best kids' movies unite generation after generation of film lovers who know a good story when they see it. Even though this list could've easily contained a completely different slate of films, we've chosen 10 movies from various genres and decades that embody what we love most about children's movies.


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Alice From 'The Brady Bunch' Films Pens Touching Tribute to Ann B. Davis

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5th Annual TV Land Awards - Show
Ann B. Davis, the actress who brought to life beloved housekeeper Alice on "The Brady Bunch," and who died this weekend at age 88, has inspired numerous fond remembrances since news of her passing was first announced.

One of the most touching tributes to the late actress comes from another Alice: Henriette Mantel, the woman who donned the character's iconic blue uniform in 1995's "The Brady Bunch Movie" and its 1996 follow-up, "A Very Brady Sequel."

In an essay for Yahoo! Movies, Mantel wrote that she was at first stunned to see her own photo accompanying some of Davis' obituaries, then angered that anyone would confuse her with such an acting legend. ("Have you no respect for Brady fans all over the world?" Mantel recalled thinking when she discovered the mix-up.)

Mantel then detailed the day she met Davis, on the set of the first "Brady" movie, in which Davis had a small cameo. Though the two actresses didn't share any scenes together, Mantel was able to meet Davis during filming, an experience the former actress said was surreal, and "a half-hour I will never forget."

Mantel continued:

[Davis] said how lucky she felt that she could wear a uniform every day and all the others had to go through elaborate costuming. Boy did I agree. We discussed how neither one of us was a cook, neither one of us had kids, neither had a butcher boyfriend named Sam and let's face it, who has housekeepers that look like us?

But then she told me of how over the years thousands of people had told her what she meant to them. She said it always touched her heart to know that she might have brought up kids all over the country in her own way. She beamed at the thought of kids learning from her. I prayed I could do the character of Alice justice and with it, keep the deep sense of humor we had in common.


Mantel's account is sweet and thoughtful, and worth reading in full. Check it out at Yahoo! Movies, and feel free to share your own remembrances of Davis in the comments here.

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Sigourney Weaver Says 'Alien 5' Isn't Dead Yet

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sigourney weaver aliens 5Is hope still alive for "Alien 5"? According to original star Sigourney Weaver, yes.

Weaver, who appeared at a Q&A at the Hero Complex Film Festival in Hollywood this weekend, said that there was potential for the long-gestating fifth installment in the venerable sci-fi franchise to eventually come to fruition, though no concrete plans for such a film are currently in place.

"I feel a longing from fans for the story to be finished," she told the crowd. "I could imagine a situation where we finish telling the story."

Though Weaver didn't offer up any concrete details about what that story would entail, she joked that it could involve the titular alien "popping out of a haystack," perhaps somewhere in the "French countryside." As for where her character, Ripley, would fit in, Weaver said that the fearless woman would keep her integrity intact.

"Had we done a fifth one, I don't doubt that her humanity would have prevailed," the actress said. " ... "I do feel like there is more story to tell."

[via: Los Angeles Times]

Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

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Thai Protestors Have Appropriated the 'Hunger Games' Three-Finger Salute

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THAILAND-POLITICSIn an odd bit of life imitating art, a group of protestors angered over the recent military coup in Thailand have been using the three-fingered salute from "The Hunger Games" as a sign of solidarity against the new government.

Like Katniss Everdeen and co., who use the salute in the Suzanne Collins novels and films -- most recently in last year's "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" -- as a silent show of defiance against the tyrannical government of Panem, Thai protestors have appropriated the signal at recent demonstrations, which came to a head this past weekend. Hundreds gathered at protests organized through social media, and were met by hundreds of police officers; the events culminated in several arrests, including that of one woman who was dragged into a taxi by police after giving authorities the salute.

Though it seems like an odd choice for a real-life demonstration, Quartz explains that the gesture has already adopted a specific significance for its users.

"Thais are avid consumers of pop culture, including the 'Hunger Games' movies, so it's not surprising that they have chosen to use the salute favored by cinematic heroine Katniss Everdeen," Quartz writes. "Adding to the cultural mash-up, protesters on Sunday said the three fingers stand for liberty, brotherhood, and equality-a slogan associated with the French Revolution that is now the official motto of France."

The Thai military seized control of the country late last month, and shut down its television broadcasts. The military had also threatened to cut off access to the internet, though protestors' continued use of social media indicates that those were perhaps empty threats. Either way, it seems that demonstrators' comparisons of Thailand's military to the fictional government in Panem may not be that far off.

[via: Quartz]

Photo by CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT/AFP/Getty Images

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'Fifty Shades of Grey' Star Jamie Dornan Doesn't Like His 'Skinny Guy' Physique

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jamie dornan fifty shades of greyThe name "Fifty Shades of Grey" explains a lot about the film's titular character, according to star Jamie Dornan.

In a recent chat with Interview, Dornan discussed the enigmatic man at the heart of the "Fifty Shades" series, and how he plans on bringing the S&M-loving British billionaire to life. For one, he plans on being as mysterious and understated as possible.

"I don't want to be showy. I'm not interested in seeing that, and I don't want to do it," Dornan said. "I've played a lot of broken people. Maybe the silences are about the different kinds of vulnerability in all of them."

As for that vulnerability, the actor told Interview that that was just one layer that Grey possessed.

"Even Christian has two sides. Come to think of it, he has 50," Dornan said, smirking at his unintentional play on words. "I guess I'm gonna be using that line all over the planet in a few months. Shouldn't waste it."

As fans of the books on which the film is based are well aware, the role of Christian will require a lot of Dornan -- namely, showing a lot of skin. Is the actor ready to reveal everything?

"I don't like my physique," he admitted. "Who does? I was a skinny guy growing up, and I still feel like that same skinny kid."

"Fifty Shades of Grey" hits theaters on February 13, 2015.

[via: Interview]

Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images

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The (Very) Short List of Replacement 'Ant-Man' Directors

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Rawson Marshall ThurberEver since director Edgar Wright abruptly left Marvel's "Ant-Man" last month, there's been a mad scramble to replace him. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear that the flick is any closer to securing a new helmer after negotiations with two reported candidates have apparently fallen through.

First, The Hollywood Reporter writes that "Anchorman" mastermind Adam McKay was offered the "Ant-Man" gig late last week, but abruptly ended negotiations and turned down the job. The director later tweeted about meeting with Marvel, confirming that overtures were made, but adding that he had other projects on the horizon he preferred to pursue.

THR also reports that Ruben Fleischer ("Zombieland") and Rawson Marshall Thurber ("We're the Millers") are in the running for "Ant-Man," but according to TheWrap, Fleischer may, like McKay, already be zeroing in on another film instead. The site says that Fleischer is currently in the running for the head job for "Ghostbusters 3," which he'd likely choose over "Ant-Man." As with all "Ghostbusters 3" news, we'll believe it when we see it, though Fleischer's link to original "Ghostbusters" star Bill Murray (the actor had a key cameo in "Zombieland") may help his -- and the long-gestating sequel's -- chances.

Which brings us to Thurber. TheWrap writes that he's currently the "Ant-Man" frontrunner, and unlike McKay and Fleischer, Thurber isn't linked to any other projects right now, making him a good candidate to step in quickly on flick, which is scheduled to start shooting soon. Thurber is known more for his comedic films ("Millers" and his directorial debut, "Dodgeball"), though that pedigree seems to be favored by the Marvel head honchos, who've (usually) striven to follow an offbeat path when selecting filmmakers, recent events notwithstanding.

We'll no doubt find out who Marvel selects soon: The superhero adaptation was meant to begin production in a matter of weeks, and we can't imagine Marvel will delay it too much later than its anticipated release date. "Ant-Man" is due in theaters July 17, 2015.

[h/t Uproxx]

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Chuck Lorre Says 'Mom' Is an Opportunity to Apologize for 'Two and a Half Men'

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2013 Summer TCA Tour - Day 6
Chuck Lorre is apologizing for "Two and a Half Men" -- sort of.

The mastermind behind the hit CBS sitcom made reference to that long-running show while accepting an award for his newest creation, "Mom," which debuted on CBS last fall. Lorre received a trophy from the Television Academy Honors this weekend (a ceremony that, according to its website, "celebrates and recognizes 'Television with a Conscience' -- television programming that inspires, informs, motivates and even has the power to change lives") for the "Mom" episode "Zombies and Cobb Salad," which details Allison Janney's character's fall off the sobriety wagon, and her attempts to clean up her act.

"To do a show about people trying to redeem their lives and to salvage and repair the damage they've done, for me, it's an opportunity to apologize for 'Two and a Half Men,'" Lorre joked as he accepted the honor, making winking reference to "Men"'s celebration of a more freewheeling, booze-soaked lifestyle, especially as enjoyed by former series star Charlie Sheen's character.

But Lorre was straight-faced when discussing "Mom," and its depiction of alcoholism, with Variety.

"It's a dark area. It destroys lives, it destroys families, and if you're as cavalier about it, that's not right, but if you can't laugh at it maybe that's not exactly right either," Lorre told the trade of the series, which co-stars Anna Faris as Janney's daughter. "Somewhere in the middle there is a balance between the two. There is comedy to be had, it just takes a little time to find it."

"Men" returns for its 12th -- and final -- season this fall. "Mom" will be back for season two.

via: Variety

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Amy Poehler Reveals Memoir Details and They Include a Hilarious Jon Hamm Anecdote

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The Paley Center For Media's PaleyFest 2014 Honoring
The name says it all: Amy Poehler's forthcoming memoir, titled "Yes Please," is due out this fall, and we can't wait to get our hands on a copy.

During a panel appearance at BookCon in New York City this weekend, Poehler revealed some details about the book in anticipation of its October release, including a handful of subjects it will cover. Expect chapters about motherhood, sex, social media (that section is dubbed "My Phone is Trying to Kill Me"), and her divorce from husband Will Arnett, a subject Poehler said would be handled delicately.

The "Parks and Recreation" star also shared one in-depth anecdote that will find its way into the book, about an encounter she had with Jon Hamm in 2008 on the stage of "Saturday Night Live," which Hamm was set to host for the first time. Poehler explained that she was nine months pregnant with her first child, and at that stage of her pregnancy had regular check-ins with her doctor, an OB/GYN of advanced age.

The Friday before the show -- which also happened to be the day before Poehler's due date -- the actress was rehearsing a "Mad Men" spoof scene with Hamm and excused herself to call her doctor's office, only to make a horrifying discovery:


[T]he receptionist was crying. I said, "What's wrong?" and she said, "Oh, [the doctor] passed away last night." I was due the next day. So it's my first kid, I'm in a "Mad Men" outfit, I turn to everybody and I hysterically start crying, and a really pregnant woman crying is terrifying. So, juicy tears just like squirting out of my eyes. And it was like the punch line to a joke, it's like, my doctor just died and I'm due tomorrow. And Jon Hamm, who I am just getting to know, comes over and puts his hands on my shoulder and is like, "This is a really important show for me. I'm gonna need you to get your shit together." And I laughed so hard, I probably peed myself.


If the rest of the stories in Poehler's memoir are this hilarious -- and it seems like a safe bet they will be -- it's going to be an agonizing wait before the book finally hits shelves. "Yes Please" is due out on October 28.

[via: Vulture]

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NBC Sets Fall Premiere Dates: Find Out When to Watch What

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NBC's
Well, you may have seen the long trailers and read the insta-reactions to the networks' upfront presentations last month, but NBC is the first network to release its fall TV schedule. Update your DVR and reschedule your book club night accordingly. (Yes, I know you're going to be reading "The Goldfinch.")

Things are pretty much what you'd expect, with reality shows taking up a certain amount of time before other, scripted series are slotted in. While many speculated that NBC would do away with its vaulted Must-See TV Thursday night line-up of comedies, that isn't completely true. While "The Biggest Loser" and "Parenthood" will air on that night, so will "Bad Judge" and "A to Z," the network's newest attempts at comedic gold.

Meanwhile, "The Voice" and "The Blacklist" will hang tight on Mondays, and Friday continues to be the "spooky" night for NBC, with "Grimm" being partnered with the Vertigo Comics-based "Constantine," and, of course, the all-murder edition of "Dateline," which might be the scariest thing on TV this side of "American Horror Story."

See the complete line-up below, courtesy of The Wrap.

Thursday, Sept. 4
8:00-11:00 SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL (Green Bay at Seattle)

Sunday, Sept. 7
7:00-8:20 FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA
8:20-11:30 SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL (Indianapolis at Denver)

Thursday, Sept. 11
8:00-10:00 THE BIGGEST LOSER

Monday, Sept. 22
8:00-10:00 THE VOICE
10:00-11:00 THE BLACKLIST

Tuesday, Sept. 23
8:00-10:00 THE VOICE
10:00-11:00 CHICAGO FIRE

Wednesday, Sept. 24
8:00-9:00 THE MYSTERIES OF LAURA
9:00-10:00 LAW & ORDER: SVU
10:00-11:00 CHICAGO P.D.

Thursday, Sept. 25
10:00-11:00 PARENTHOOD

Friday, Sept. 26
9:00-11:00 DATELINE NBC

Thursday, Oct. 2
8:00-9:00 THE BIGGEST LOSER (TIME PERIOD PREMIERE)
9:00-9:30 BAD JUDGE
9:30-10:00 A TO Z

Tuesday, Oct. 14
8:00-9:00 THE VOICE (TIME PERIOD PREMIERE)
9:00-9:30 MARRY ME
9:30-10:00 ABOUT A BOY

Friday, Oct. 24
8:00-9:00 DATELINE NBC (TIME PERIOD PREMIERE)
9:00-10:00 GRIMM
10:00-11:00 CONSTANTINE

Monday, Nov. 17
10:00-11:00 STATE OF AFFAIRS


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Oliver Stone to Tackle an Edward Snowden Movie

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oliver stone edward snowden movieWell, I guess this was just a matter of time... But The Guardian UK is reporting that Oliver Stone, the Oscar-winning director of such conspiratorially minded gems as "JFK" and his bafflingly overlooked documentary series "The Untold History of the United States," is set to bring the story of NSA whistleblower to the big screen in "The Snowden Files," an adaptation of the book written by Luke Harding.

The thriller will, according to the Guardian's report, follow Snowden, an NSA contractor who decided to leak thousands of classified documents to a former Guardian columnist in June, 2013, causing the government (and everyone else) to seriously reassess the widespread use of surveillance in the United States and elsewhere. (Snowden is in Russia currently seeking asylum and faces a 30-year prison sentence should he ever re-enter the United States.)

This seems like perfect material for Stone, who has built his career around historical tales that can be gleefully milked for all of their paranoid glory. It doesn't matter whether or not JFK was killed by a lone gunman or a vast conspiracy that involved the CIA, Cuban separatists and petty Southern gangsters; in Oliver Stone's universe both "truths" rest side by side and one is always just as entertaining as the other.

It's been a little while, too, since we've been legitimately excited for an Oliver Stone movie. The past few have been duds, including "W.," which should have been a homerun given the subject matter.

Hopefully this will put him back in his conspiratorial wheelhouse.

Photo credit should read RAFA RIVAS/AFP/Getty Images


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'The F Word' Trailer: Daniel Radcliffe, Zoe Kazan Struggle for Love (VIDEO)

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'The F Word' Trailer No. 2

Have you ever fallen in love with someone, but at the totally wrong time?

In "The F Word," that's precisely what happens between Wallace (Daniel Radcliffe) and Chantry (Zoe Kazan), after they meet at a party and sparks fly. [Ed. Note: Titled "What If?" in the United States, Canada has chosen to stick with the original title.]

What follows is a hilarious (and sometimes heart-wrenching) look at love, relationships, and the dreaded "friend zone." Of course "Girls" star Adam Driver is along for the ride as Radcliffe's fun-loving, devil-may-care foil.

Set in Toronto (and not shy about it), the movie paints a portrait of the two would-be lovebirds as they dance around each other; but do they ever get together? You have to watch to find out.

(Check out the trailer, above.)

"The F Word" is set to premiere in Canada on August 1, 2014.

​

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'Game of Thrones': 7 Spectacularly Brutal Scenes We Can't Unsee (PHOTOS)

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game of thrones brutal momentsRemember, in the game of thrones, either you win or you die... horribly.

If HBO's "Game of Thrones" has given us one thing, it's unforgettable moments of death, torture, and brutality. All of which cause you to squirm uncomfortably in your seat and cover your eyes until the dying/brutality is over because it's so gruesome that you'd rather not see it than have flashes of it pop into your head during meetings, dinners, kids' birthday parties, doctors' appointments, etc. You get the drift.

Well, here at Moviefone, we celebrate those moments. And, in no particular order, we offer some of the most inhumane scenes indelibly etched into our retinas.

Got any to add? Leave your suggestions in the comments below.



Article photo courtesy HBO

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The Leaked 'Star Wars' Photos Will Make You Very Excited About 'Episode VII'

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star wars episode 7 photos leakIt's no secret that "Star Wars: Episode VII" is shooting in Abu Dhabi, which is, presumably, filling in for the desert world of Tattooine. (Originally these sequences were shot in Tunisia.) But what is being filmed isn't exactly certain, although, thanks to some leaked photos obtained by TMZ (via io9), it appears that Abrams's outspoken commitment to bringing the series back to its practical effects roots wasn't just lip service. The proof, as they say, is in the giant pig.

The most dazzling photos of the bunch (which you're going to have to go to TMZ to look at, it's too early in the week to get sued) detail a giant pig monster that is supposedly being controlled from within by five very sweaty puppeteers. It's also lovely to see that there are actually some sets that are standing, and that it's not just being performed in front of a giant green tarp, which is what the prequels certainly felt like.

"Star Wars: Episode VII," which unites old (and we mean old) cast members Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill with new cast members john Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, and Oscar Isaac, opens on December 18th, 2015. It will make all of the money.

Check out the photos here.


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Lupita Nyong'o and Gwendoline Christie Join 'Star Wars: Episode VII'

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lupita nyong'o gwendoline christie star wars episode viiWhen the new "Star Wars" cast was announced, it was noticeably lacking in the lady department (adorable British newcomer Daisy Ridley was a notable exception). John Boyega, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson and Max von Sydom dominated the conversation, leading a number of journalists and fans to wonder about the female quotient of this new "Star Wars" movie. Well, today, Lucasfilm and Disney announced that recent Oscar winner (and all-around guiding light) Lupita Nyong'o and Gwendoline Christie, from "Game of Thrones," will be joining the cast of "Star Wars: Episode VII." Hell yes.

"I could not be more excited about Lupita and Gwendoline joining the cast of Episode VII," Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy in a statement released alongside the announcement. "It's thrilling to see this extraordinarily talented ensemble taking shape."

Yes, it really is thrilling. Nyong'o won an Oscar for her harrowing work in Steve McQueen's "12 Years a Slave," and had a brief role in the slick Liam Neeson thriller "Non-Stop" earlier this year, while Christie continues her fine work as Brienne of Tarth on "Game of Thrones." (She's the female knight who doesn't take guff from anyone.) They will join the aforementioned new cast and old timers Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill, on the J.J. Abrams-directed film, which is currently shooting.

This being Abrams, it's unclear whether or not Nyong'o and Christie will play bad guys, good guys, or droids. But what is clear is that whatever they do, they'll knock it out of the park. They have certainly brought (gender) balance to the Force.

"Star Wars: Episode VII" opens on December 18th, 2015.

Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images + Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

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'The Bachelorette' Week 3: Who's Up, Who's Down, Who's Out

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Last night Andi Dorfman's gaggle of suitors went from boys to men. (Sort of.) Actually, the contestants were forced to sing in a concert with '90s R&B sensation Boyz II Men and the results were... interesting.

Here are the highlights of "The Bachelorette" Season 10, week 3:

-Andi went on a one-on-one with Nick in Santa Barbara. They hiked and talked and hugged and hiked some more. Nick, who seems like a shy, sensitive type, admitted he was "skeptical" about the whole process, but told Andi she was his "crush." The software sales executive put all his emotional baggage out on the table and admitted he had once been engaged for like a minute or something. He got a kiss. He got a rose. He has potential.

-The group date was, in true group date fashion, humiliating and hilarious. The guys had to perform for a crowd on the streets in Santa Barbara and sing "I'll Make Love to You" by Boyz II Men. In front of who? Boyz II Men. Let's just say the Boyz weren't impressed. But Andi was! Everyone had a grand ole time.

-Then Andi went on a one-on-one with pantsapreneur JJ. They (wait for it...) got dressed in old people makeup to see what it would be like to grow old together. They pretended it was their 50th anniversary and fooled little children in the park by acting like they were 80-years-old. Laughs were had. There was a kiss.

But let's get to the goods. Who stays? Who goes? Who was nice? Who was naughty?

Who's out?: Despite having the one-up in the singing competition group date, opera singer Bradley didn't hit a high note. Brett, who lamented not putting himself out there more, also did not get a rose. Tear. Unfortunately Ron exited before the ceremony, after getting a phone call that his friend had passed away.

Who's up?: Andi's face time with Nick proved well for him. He even sent her flowers later in the episode and she got giddy over the gesture. Points to Nick. Cody got to show off his goofy personality and he's fun and sweet! Andi even pranked him by telling him she heard he had a girlfriend back home, which is NOT true, you guys. He took the joke well.

Who's down?: Last week's MVP Chris didn't get much screen time. We miss you, Chris! Marcus, despite getting a rose first at the ceremony, comes off as a little intense, no? He might need to take it down a notch.

Don't count this guy out: Again, Josh M. Andi and him have obvious chemistry, even in a group setting. Which is probably why he got the group date rose.

Season 10 villain?: According to Josh and JJ, Andrew totally got another girl's number while out to dinner. Not cool.

That's the "end of the road" for now. (Boyz II Men 4eva.) Stay tuned for tomorrow for week 3, part 2.


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Listen to Four Tracks From the 'Edge of Tomorrow' Soundtrack (EXCLUSIVE)

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edge of tomorrow soundtrackThis week's sci-fi extravaganza, "Edge of Tomorrow," starring Tom Cruise as a soldier unwittingly recruited to join an intergalactic war in which he finds himself in a never-ending time loop, is the summer's biggest surprise so far. It's bold, funny, and breathlessly entertaining. It's a movie in which Cruise springs back to life every time that he's killed, and so it's a smorgasbord of tactile sights and, just as importantly, sounds. And you'll get a taste of those sounds thanks to the four exclusive tracks from the movie's accompanying soundtrack album.

Christophe Beck, who got his start scoring Joss Whedon's immortal television series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," provided the music for "Edge of Tomorrow," and it's easily one of his most accomplished pieces to date. (This is even more impressive considering he was a last minute replacement for original composer Ramin Djawadi. Hey, it happens.) While there are obvious moments full of ominous tension and dread, the score also has some lighter flourishes, like a moment we wouldn't hesitate to say borders on calypso.

The first track we have, "Angel of Verdun," also serves as the main titles for the film, in which we are brought up to speed on the war between humankind and the deadly Mimics -- the alien menace that are a swirl of tentacles and teeth. (We love the helicopter sound that's layered in, especially because the movie's Angel of Verdun, a warrior played by Emily Blunt, wields a helicopter blade like a sword.)



The second track, which has some nifty electronic flourishes, is called "Mimics and Alphas." This track is all about the Mimics, complete with that militaristic march. If you haven't guessed -- they are very, very scary!



"Decoy," the third track, takes place later in the movie, when Blunt and Cruise are outsmarting the bad monsters. It's more of a mood piece and is wonderfully overwhelming. Again, Beck's subtlety and humor shines through even in something this oppressive (especially with those twinkly synths).



In the fourth track, "They Know We're Coming," gloom settles over the score since, well, the Mimics know our heroes are en route and things are about to get very hairy.



It's wonderful to see a composer like Beck pay his dues on things like "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and really come into his own in recent years. He scored last year's blockbuster animated film "Frozen," based on his work on the Oscar-winning Disney short "Paperman," and has contributed a number of lovely scores for a whole host of movies (we really love his score for "Tower Heist," of all things). Hopefully this rip-roaring score for "Edge of Tomorrow" will get him the attention he deserves. On the battlefield of film scores, he's certainly a warrior worth getting behind.

The soundtrack for "Edge of Tomorrow" is out Tuesday (June 3). The movie is out on Friday. Get ready.

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​Box Office: In 'Maleficent' vs. 'Million Ways,' It's Girls 1, Guys 0

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box office maleficentWhy have this summer's box office behemoths been dropping like flies after their first weekends?

"The Amazing Spider-Man 2," "Neighbors," "Godzilla," and "X-Men: Days of Future Past" all opened at No. 1 and then plummeted, losing half or two-thirds of their business the following weekend. One possible reason: they all have too much testosterone.

Yes, summer tentpole movies (note the standard Freudian nickname) tend to be pretty macho, without much appeal to female audiences. This summer, however, girl-power movies may be coming out on top. That was certainly the case this weekend, with Angelina Jolie's "Maleficent" opening on top with an estimated $70.0 million (about $15 million more than most pundits predicted) while "A Million Ways to Die in the West," Seth MacFarlane's follow-up to "Ted," struggled to a third-place debut with an estimated $17.1 million, about $10 million below expectations.

Yes, "Maleficent" had a lot of advantages over "Million Ways," but many of those tie into gender.

First off, "Maleficent" had Jolie, who remains one of the biggest stars on the planet even four years after her last live-action movie. In this case, her long absence seems only to have whetted viewers' appetites to see her in this film, rather than allow them to forget her. She's getting better reviews for her performance than the movie is overall (though audiences clearly love the film, giving it an A grade at CinemaScore). The character certainly fits her right down to the cheekbones. It's certainly hard to imagine audiences getting this excited to see anyone else star in a rewrite of "Sleeping Beauty" from the wicked fairy's point of view.

The genre is also a plus. Disney has done well in recent years with these live-action fairy-tale reboots ("Alice in Wonderland," "Oz the Great and Powerful"), but so have others (like Universal with "Snow White and the Huntsman," which opened this same weekend two years ago). As a result, Disney has been willing to go all out on this one, from spending a reported $180 million on the production (when's the last time you saw a studio spend that much on a female-centered movie?), adding 3D and IMAX versions (think how many tens of millions "Snow White" might have added to its take if Universal had made it 3D), and saturation-marketing it for more than six months. And speaking of fairy tales, it doesn't hurt that Disney is still coasting on a wave of girl-power good will from the success of its six-month-old animated hit "Frozen," which this week became the fifth biggest movie of all time (not adjusting for inflation).

Of course, it also helped that the movie was rated PG, allowing it to draw a big family audience (45 percent of its viewers) at a time when there are few other family-friendly options at the multiplex. Even so, Disney reports that a full 60 percent of "Maleficent" viewers this weekend were female.

Conversely, "Million Ways" had some built-in disadvantages, starting with writer/director/star Seth MacFarlane. For all the popularity of "Family Guy" and his other animated TV shows, he's a fairly divisive presence in person. He was wise not to appear on camera in "Ted." To many potential "Million Ways" viewers, however, the on-screen lead is the guy who sang "We Saw Your Boobs" when he hosted the Oscars last year. Ted's voice aside, MacFarlane is not the proven leading man that Mark Wahlberg is.

Then there's the genre. Westerns don't do well for foreign audiences, but they don't do well here, either. There have been a couple of noteworthy exceptions, Westerns that played the genre straight ("True Grit," "Django Unchained"), but tongue-in-cheek Westerns don't do well these days (see "Jonah Hex," "Cowboys & Aliens," and "The Lone Ranger").

Finally, dumb (or cleverly dumb) man-child comedy isn't doing that great either. True, "Neighbors" has done well, but it's better-executed than most, and besides, it seems to have sucked all the air out of the room for movies that followed, including Adam Sandler's "Blended" and now, "Million Ways." The R rating is also problematic; it keeps younger viewers away, and while it might attract more older viewers if the reviews were better (à la "Ted"), they're not.

There's another theory out there, that women and girls rushed to see "Maleficent" this weekend because they know "The Fault in Our Stars" is opening next weekend. It's a similar notion to the one floated a couple weeks ago, that "Godzilla" enjoyed a larger-than-expected debut because the fanboy crowd knew that "X-Men: Days of Future Past" was opening the following weekend. Maybe there's something to that; maybe smart viewers helped put "X-Men" on top last week because they wanted to see it in 3D or IMAX and knew that the mutant sequel would be giving those screens up to "Maleficent" this weekend. I'm not sure if moviegoers are that well-informed as to the scheduling practices of 3D exhibitors, but I will say that I wouldn't expect a similar effect for MacFarlane's Western; I don't think guys were making a point of seeing it this weekend because they knew the sci-fi action thriller "Edge of Tomorrow" would be elbowing It aside next weekend.

One thing Is certain: this summer's blockbusters don't have a lot of staying power.

Right now, there are only nine movies playing on more than 1,000 screens each, meaning that moviegoers who depend on the multiplexes don't have a lot to choose from this summer. So perhaps they're choosing more carefully.

Next weekend, though, "Edge of Tomorrow" will grab about 3,300 screens (some of them, perhaps, the 3D and IMAX screens currently occupied by "Maleficent") and "Fault in Our Stars" will grab 3,000. So the battle between the Tom Cruise explosion-fest and the Shailene Woodley tearjerking teen romance will be an interesting test of whether "Maleficent"''s girl-power triumph was a fluke or a sign of a lasting shift in taste.

I'd expect "Edge" to open bigger but "Stars" to last longer in theaters -- and in the memories of moviegoers who see it.

Photo courtesy Disney

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