Music and movies

The Enemy have revealed that their forthcoming second album will be “punky” and “aggressive”, and that they have 30 songs ready to record.

Drummer Liam Watts told the Daily Star that the album would be rougher around the edges than the Coventry band’s debut, ‘We’ll Live And Die In These Towns’.

“Just because guitar music has taken a dip in the charts doesn’t mean we’re going to start experimenting with electro or anything,” he said. “We’re not going to change what we do best.

“We’ve got about 30 new tracks that we need to fine-tune before going into the studio. The next album is going to be just as diverse but less polished.

“We wanted to get a raw, punkier feel to it, closer to the sound you hear when we play live.”

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Transformers: The Ride

Movie blockbuster Transformers is heading to Universal Studios’ theme park - it’s to be the basis of a thrilling new ride.

The Michael Bay-directed film grossed more than $700 million (GBP404 million) worldwide upon its release in 2007, and studio bosses at Universal are looking to further cash in on its success by launching a Transformers-themed rollercoaster.

The high-definition 3D ride is being developed by Universal Parks + Resorts, original toy makers Hasbro Inc. and Steven Spielberg’s DreamWorks studio, which produced the move.

And theme park bosses hope the white-knuckle ride will “transform perceptions of theme park experiences”.

It is expected to launch in 2011 at Universal Studios Singapore, which is due for completion in 2010, while a Hollywood version will follow the Asian opening.

Spielberg was also involved with Universal in the making of Jurassic Park - The Ride.

A sequel to last year’s box office smash is currently being made, with stars Shia Labeouf and Megan Fox reuniting with Bay for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, which is set for a summer 2009 release.

The man accused of leaking several Guns N Roses tracks online has had his charges reduced, according to US reports.

Kevin Cogill, 27, is accused of violating federal copyright laws by uploading nine tracks from the veteran rockers’ highly anticipated forthcoming album ‘Chinese Democracy’ on his website this summer.

Under the original charge, the leaker looked set to face five years in prison if convicted.

But the FBI investigation is now believed to have recommended downgrading the charge from a felony to a misdemeanour, reports Yahoo Music.

If that is the case Cogill is likely to face a maximum of one year in prison.

‘Chinese Democracy’ is due to be released on November 24.

Craig: ‘Picking Bond Girls Is Weird’

Movie star Daniel Craig finds the auditions for Bond girls “weird” because they involve him trying to connect with a string of beautiful ladies.

The producers of the Bond films have always insisted their stars play a major part in picking the suave superspy’s leading ladies - but Craig admits he feels uncomfortable choosing a film partner in a room of hopefuls.

He says, “They build a set, and you get the cameras in; then you’re introduced to 10 girls. You have to act out a scene with them.

“It’s kind of weird and awkward and strange, but you know if something’s working almost immediately.”

So far, Craig has helped select Eva Green for Casino Royale and Olga Kurylenko for new 007 adventure Quantum of Solace.

ABC on Tuesday denied that it had paid Thomas Riccio $15,000 for an interview as Riccio had claimed during the O.J. Simpson trial in Las Vegas on Monday. The collectibles dealer, who recorded the meeting between Simpson and other dealers at a Las Vegas hotel, had testified that when he told ABC producers that he would not be interviewed unless he was paid, they offered him the money for photographs of Riccio posing with Sipson and rights to use his recording. Likewise, a spokesman for the syndicated Entertainment Tonight , owned by CBS, insisted that the $25,000 it paid to Riccio was not for the interview but for the tapes and photos.

24/09/2008

Women Lawyers Go To Battle In Madonna/Ritchie Divorce

Guy Ritchie will have to deal with another powerful woman once his divorce battle with Madonna hits the courtroom - he has reportedly hired one of Britain’s top female lawyers.

The filmmaker has hired revered divorce lawyer Helen Ward to pit against his estranged pop superstar wife and her attorney - rumoured to be Fiona Shackleton, the lawyer famed for represented Paul McCartney in his divorce from Heather Mills earlier this year.

According to London’s Evening Standard newspaper, Ritchie is taking advice from Ward after hearing of her credentials in the divorce law arena - she settled the U.K.’s biggest ever divorce payout. Ward also lists Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber as a client.

Ritchie has allegedly approached Ward as she is reported to be “particularly adept at protecting the interests of fathers”, an aspect the director is keen to focus on after allegedly making it clear he doesn’t want a share of Madonna’s $525 million (GBP284 million) fortune in their settlement.

The pair announced their split on Wednesday after months of speculation surrounding the state of their seven-and-a-half year marriage.

“Brown Sugar” singer D’Angelo has released a revamped version of his 1996 recording “I Found My Smile Again” as a new buzz single this week.

“The song is something that’s very close to him,” says manager Lindsay Guion.

According to Billboard, the R&B star’s “I Found My Smile Again” has been made available exclusively through iTunes.

Alluding to D’Angelo’s problems
stemming from a 2005 arrest for drunk driving and drug possession,
Guion adds, “He’s able to smile again and he’s ready to connect [with
fans]. He’s coming back. And he looks great, by the way.”

The
iTunes releases follows news of a Q-Tip song featuring D’Angelo, “I
Believe,” that was leaked online today. D’Angelo went into the studio
with Q-Tip about two months ago to record the track. While the song is
slated to appear on Q-Tip’s own upcoming album, “The Renaissance”
(Universal Motown, Nov. 4), Guion isn’t sure yet if it will also be
featured on D’Angelo’s new album via J Records/RCA Music Group.

D’Angelo is slated to release a new album, his first in over 7 years, early next year.

Kurylenko Landed Bond Role Without Rehearsals

Bond girl Olga Kurylenko was surprised to land a role in Quantum Of Solace - because she never rehearsed for the part.

Kurylenko plays femme fatale Camille in the latest installment of the superspy franchise.

But she thought her dreams of playing the famous role ended at her auditions.

She explains, “I didn’t get the scenes to learn beforehand. They didn’t arrive so I was totally unprepared.

“So I sat there for 20 minutes trying to memorise them, but the audition ended up more like an improvisation. I thought, `Well I’ve got nothing to lose; I probably won’t get it, so I’m just going to have fun.”’

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Kat Dennings, who stars in “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist,” which bowed in theaters this weekend, is in negotiations to join Woody Harrelson and Sandra Oh in “Defendor.”

Written by Peter Stebbings, who also is making his directorial debut, the film centers on a regular guy (Harrelson) who believes he has a secret superhero identity. Dennings will play a teenager he befriends, while Oh is cast as his psychiatrist.

Principal photography begins next month in Toronto on the film, which is being produced by Darius Films principal Nicholas Tabarrok.

/Hollywood Reporter

Angelina Jolie has bought her six-year-old adopted son Maddox his first knife.

The Tomb Raider star says she purchased a blade for her son because she wants to educate him about the dangers and benefits of having a weapon around.

She tells W magazine, “We take him to a special shop. We also talk about Samurais and the idea about defending someone as good. We talk about everything.”

The mum-of-six reveals she took the decision to arm the youngster because she went knife shopping with her own mother at the age of 11.

Shots of Angelina breastfeeding taken by her partner Brad Pitt also accompany the new interview.