NEW STILL FROM TIM BURTON'S "DARK SHADOWS"

Still from Dark Shadows

Spooky! Tim Burton is almost ready to serve up his next Film Dark Shadows, based on the TV Series of the same name in the mid-'60s. Starring once again his male Muse Johnny Depp, the Supernatural Drama centers around a young Boy named Barnabas and his family who move from England to America. Barnabas grows up to be a wealthy Playboy but breaks the heart of a Witch named Angelique (Eva Green) who buries him alive. 20 years later, he is set free and returns to his former residence, now occupied by strangers with deep, dark secrets of their own.

Some new Stills have surfaced from Dark Shadows including the one above with a menacing Depp, haunting Michelle Pfeiffer, perhaps extending an unwelcome stay.  The Film also stars Chloë Moretz, Jonny Lee Miller, Jackie Earle Haley, Alice Cooper and of course the brilliant Mrs. Burton herself, Helena Bonham Carter.

May 11, 2012 is Warner Bros.' slated release date for Dark Shadows.

(Photo credit: Warner Bros.)

KATY PERRY IS THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE!

Mr. Will-W. & 2 Broke Girls

Although Katy Perry swept the People's Choice Awards this year, unfortunately she was absent from all the fun tonight due much in part to the recent circumstances surrounding her Marriage to Russell Brand.  Perry won five Awards tonight including Favourite Female Artist, Favourite Song of the Year (E.T.), Favourite Music Video (Last Friday Night), Favourite Tour Headliner and Favourite TV Guest Star (How I Met Your Mother). 

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 finished a close second, garnering four Awards also including: Favourite Movie, Favourite Ensemble Cast, Favourite Book and Favourite Action Movie.

Emma Stone and Johnny Depp also each picked-up two awards each and perhaps a bit surprising was CBS' 2 Broke Girls winning Favourite New TV Comedy, beating out Whitney, Up All Night, Surburgatory, New Girl and more!  Way to go, Beth Behrs and Kat Dennings!

For a complete list of Winners, click  here.

LEONARDO DICAPRIO TOPS FORBES' HIGHEST-EARNING ACTORS LIST

Still from J Edgar

We already know who the Highest-Paid Actresses are according to Forbes, but they've now announced their list of Hollywood's five Highest-Earning Actors for the year ending May 1, 2011. 

 The Top Five are as follows:

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES - MOVIE REVIEW

Still from Pirates of the Caribbean:
On Stranger Tides

Did another instalment really need to be made? And did it need really to be in 3-D? No, not really. How does one deny though the worldwide success of the Pirates of the Caribbean Franchise, having grossed over $2.6 billion since 2003? Its Legacy is something to be respected and its legions of Followers should have no problems appreciating this latest Chapter also.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is the fourth film in the series from A Jerry Bruckheimer Production and Walt Disney Motion Pictures. Here we follow free-spirited Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) as he reunites with a mysterious Woman from his past named Angelica (Penélope Cruz) whom he has scorned. The fiery Daughter of tyrannical Blackbeard (Ian McShane) is on a quest with her Father aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge to locate the illusive Fountain of Youth and the two chalices one must drink from in order to live forever.

We never are sure whether Angelica’s feelings towards Jack are genuine or whether she simply wants to use him – with the help of Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) and Gibbs (Kevin McNally) - for the benefit of her Father in his conquest. Before Jack and Co. can make their way to the Fountain of Youth, they must survive some internal strife aboard the Ship and also, the dangerous Waters they charter.

ENTER TO WIN A PASS FOR TWO TO AN ADVANCE SCREENING IN TORONTO OF "PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES"

Still from Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Join Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) as he encounters a mysterious Woman from his past named Angelica (Penélope Cruz). We wonder though, if it's love or if she simply is using him to get to the illusive Fountain of Youth after forcing him aboard the ruthless pirate Blackbeard's (Ian McShane) ship, Queen Anne's Revenge.

Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Walt Disney Motion Pictures proudly present Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and together with Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven, we want to give two lucky Readers in Toronto each a pass for two to see an Advance Screening of the Film on Wednesday, May 18, 2011, 7:00 PM at Scotiabank Theatre.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is directed by Academy Award-winning Director Rob Marshall with a Screen Story and Screenplay written by Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio. It opens in theatres on Friday, May 20, 2011.  Visit the official website here.

To qualify for the win, please leave a comment telling me who produces Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides no later than Monday, May 16, 2011 at 12:00 PM EST. Good luck, Mavenati!

(Photo credit: Walt Disney Motion Pictures)

WIN 1 OF 3 "THE TOURIST" AND "HOW DO YOU KNOW" DVD PRIZE PACKS

Courtesy of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment & Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven are three DVD Prize Packs up for grabs! Packs includes a copy each of The Tourist (Johnny Depp & Angelina Jolie) and How Do You Know (Paul Rudd & Reese Witherspoon)!

To qualify for the win, please leave a comment with the answer to the following question: "True or false, was The Tourist was nominated for Best Motion Picture - Drama at this year's Golden Globe Awards?". Three lucky winners will be drawn April 1, 2011 and this Contest applies only to readers in Canada. Good luck, Mavenati and please ensure you leave some way for me to get back to you should you win!

The Tourist and How Do You Know are now in stores in both Standard and Blu-Ray Two-Disc formats.

Thank you once again to Media Profile for their generosity in knowing what my Readers want best!  You Guys are stupendous.

INTERVIEW: MINDLESS BEHAVIOR (PICS & VIDEO)

Mindless Behavior - Toronto, March 2011

It's been over two years in the making, but Pop Music will soon be embracing the debut of a new Teen phenomenon, Mindless Behavior. The Boy Band, three parts Los Angelenos and one part Philadelphian, have won the praise of industry Icons like Diddy and Janet Jackson, the latter who has handpicked them to join her on twelve key dates for her NUMBER ONES: Up Close and Personal Tour. Just having landed in Toronto after their first stop-off in Chicago earlier this week, I caught up backstage with the Boys of Mindless Behavior - their first ever Canadian interview - at a venue Midtown, a private Showcase organized by Faze Magazine.

Prodigy

Starting off our session with a quick Photoshoot, I was amazed firstly by the level of seasoning these Boys showed, comfortably throwing poses at the Camera - each defining who they were on a personal level. Prodigy, decidedly the lead Vocalist of the group, is confident and understated, giving me full-on Diddy. Princeton is colourful and outgoing, his hair actually reminiscent of a young Prince. Roc Royal is grounded and approachable. Ray Ray although the quietest and perhaps most endearing, is by no means shy on-stage.

The Boys explain to me the process of how they came to be Mindless Behavior with Princeton telling me, "Roc Royal and I were chosen out of 600 kids by Walter Millsap (Beyoncé) and Vincent Herbert (Lady Gaga) first, then came Prodigy from Philadelphia who was discovered on YouTube by our Choreographer. Ray Ray joined our group last.". Life hasn't been all Escalades and Red Carpets though since being signed to Interscope Records by Jimmy Iovine. He adds that "for two years we have been going to classes for Vocal Lessons, Media Training and Choreography. We're all being Homeschooled now.".

DISNEY PREVIEWS 2011 FILMS: "THE HELP", "PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN 4" AND "THE MUPPETS"

Walt Disney Motion Pictures Canada just sent me a preview of some of their 2011 releases and it's looking already like next year will be crammed with Blockbusters!

One release which caught my eye in particular was The Help in which Emma Stone stars.  Its Synopsis states that it takes place in the '60s and is about a Girl named Skeeter (Stone) who visits a town in Mississippi.  Determined to be a Writer, she turns the town upside down after deciding to interview candidly the Black Women who serve the wealthy.  Along with the forthcoming installment of Spider-Man, we'll be seeing a whole lotta Stone next year and I can't seem to get enough.  The Help is slated for an August 12, 2011 release.

Many of you will be excited to know that Jim Henson's The Muppets will be given the treatment next Fall.  Forgetting Sarah Marshall's Jason Segel will be starring in the Film as Walter, a huge Muppets Fan who tries to save The Muppet Theatre from demolition after a wealthy Businessman Tex Richman discovers that there is an Oil resevoir of wealthy beneath it.  To raise the much-needed funds required to keep it running, Walter stages a grand Telethon.  Cute!  The new generation of Kids don't know what they're missing and hopefully this will revive some renewed interest in the iconic Franchise.  The Muppets is scheduled for a November 23, 2011 release.

And of course, many of us are excited to see Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides 3-D which sees Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) reuniting with the beautiful and mysterious Angelica (Penélope Cruz), who coaxes him aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge.  Soon before he knows it, he finds himself in all sorts of trouble with both Angelica and the dangerous Blackbeard (Ian McShane).  CHICAGO and NINE Director Rob Marshall helms this installment. The Film hits theatres May 20, 2011.

(Photo credit: Walt Disney Motion Pictures Canada)

ANGELINA JOLIE AND JOHNNY DEPP'S THE TOURIST BUMPED UP TO DECEMBER 2010

This has gotta be a good sign. As announced previously, Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck's The Tourist starring Johnny Depp and Angeline Jolie, was to be released around Valentine's Day 2011. It appears they're either really ahead of schedule or just really confident in the quality of work here,  releasing the film December 10, 2010 now. This could only mean it's a serious Oscar contender.

The film is about an American man named Frank (Depp) who visits Italy after having his heart broken, only to fall dangerously in love with the entrancing Elise (Jolie).  Bring it.

OPRAH TOPS FORBES LIST; LADY GAGA RANKS FOURTH

Forbes Magazine has listed their annual Top 100 World's Most Powerful Celebrities list which compiles figures based on Pay, TV/Radio Rank, Press Rank, Web Rank and Social Rank and topping this year’s list again is multimedia magnate Oprah Winfrey. Winfrey was surpassed by Angelina Jolie last year, although the latter has had a quiet year, slipping to number 18 on the list. Surprisingly though, Beyoncé Knowles ranks second, ahead of Avatar director James Cameron. Lady Gaga shoots up to number four on the list, earning $67 million this past year believe it or not. She must loathe herself completely right now because she has very publicly claimed how much she hates money, no?

The list is as follows:

1. Oprah Winfrey

2. Beyoncé Knowles

3. James Cameron

4. Lady Gaga

THE TOURIST STILL WITH ANGELINA JOLIE AND JOHNNY DEPP

There couldn't be a more perfect pairing. Check out this just-released still of Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp who both star in German director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck's The Tourist.  The film hits theatres around Valentine's Day 2011 and follows the story of Frank (Johnny Depp) who visits Italy after having his heart broken.  He then falls in love with Elise (Angelina Jolie) while on vacation; a dangerous move.  The romance genre has been lacking lately hasn't it?  Hopefully The Tourist, from Spyglass Entertainment, will spark some sort of a revival.

REVIEW: TIM BURTON'S ALICE IN WONDERLAND

Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland is a gorgeous visual spectacle. Although fantasy films aren't exactly my favourite genre of film, watching this in 3-D (my very first time) was simply breathtaking.

The film is based on Lewis Carroll's books Alice in Wonderland, in addition to Through The Looking Glass. The story begins in Alice's (newcomer Mia Wasikowska) late teens, where she finds herself at a party in which she is to become engaged to Hamish (Leo Bill). She of course has absolutely no desire to marry him and escapes to Wonderland once again, lost and in danger at the hands of the evil Red Queen, acted to perfection by Helena Bonham-Carter. Along her journey, Alice is reunited with old friends including Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp), Cheshire Cat (Stephen Fry) and Blue Caterpillar (Alan Rickman) whom are all there to protect her in uniting Alice with the good White Queen (Anne Hathaway). There is of course, a sibling rivalry between Red Queen and White Queen and in the end Alice acting as the White Queen's champion, is pitted against the Red Queen's champion, The Jabberwocky.  But does she believe in herself enough to control her own destiny?

Although there are some riveting CGI graphics and very strong performances by the outstanding ensemble cast, all eyes just gravitate to Helena Bonham-Carter as the bulbous-headed Red Queen. Depp is curiously charming as Mad Hatter and Hathaway, whom I absolutely adore, is simply out-acted in this film perhaps confusing the true essence of White Queen in her exaggerated prissiness.  Wasikowska exceeds all expectations as the film's star and certainly has a bright future ahead of her.

Let's be honest though - the narrative is far from perfect. There are many gaps in the back story of sibling rivalry between White Queen and Red Queen. Above this, many of the characters who appear in the story, which carries on Alice's legacy in her late teens already have a history with her which Burton assumes all know, which might be hasty. There are just enough details given in Alice in Wonderland to give the audience the gist of what Lewis Carroll's treasured stories are all about. In the end though, the true message of the story is timeless and important to young people: to live their lives on their own terms and to always make decisions for themselves.