Brave: Film Review

The Bottom Line - Pixar's 13th feature plays it safe and old-fashioned rather than risky and adventurous.

Venue - Sydney Film Festival (opening night)

Opens - Friday, June 22 (Disney)

Voice cast - Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters, Robbie Coltrane, Kevin McKidd, Craig Ferguson

Directors - Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman

Pixar's 13th film, which follows an adventurous Scottish princess, is visually stunning and strongly voiced, but doesn't take any real risks.

The season's latest feature destined to boost the demand for kids' archery lessons, Brave might disappoint many ardent Pixar loyalists while simultaneously delighting old-time Disney fans.

The 13th animated feature from the world's most consistently successful film company is its first set in that version of the past forever favored by Disney, that of princesses, kings, queens, witches, evil spells and prankish secondary characters. For all its pictorial and vocal beauty, the film's emotional line and dramatic contrivances are both more familiar and less inventive than what's usually delivered by the studio. Younger kids won't mind, but many viewers accustomed to relying upon Pixar for something special will feel a sense of letdown due to the lack of adventurousness. A muscular box office ride is virtually a given.

Part of the problem is that Brave never becomes the film that seems to be promised at the outset. After a beautiful and eventful prologue in which flaming-maned Scottish princess Merida (Kelly Macdonald) receives an archery bow for her birthday, glimpses blue will-o'-the-wisps floating through the forest and sees her father, King Fergus (Billy Connolly), lose a leg to a ferocious bear, the action jumps ahead to her adolescence and her obligation to get married.

Under the strict tutelage of loving but demanding mother Elinor (Emma Thomson), Merida has learned the necessities but is a wild lass at heart, desperate for her days off when she can ride off on horseback and perfect her archery. As for marriage, nothing could be less appealing: “I don't want my life to be over,” she rails to her mother. “I want my freedom.”

One look at the top suitors offered up by the three other leading clans and you can see what she means; they're the three stooges of Scotland, whose beefy kinsmen would sooner brawl than shake your hand. Once Merida shows them all up in an archery contest and her furious mother tosses her daughter's prize bow in the fireplace, the headstrong girl takes off on her enormous steed, Angus.

It stands to reason that this first half-hour sets up expectations of a story in some way involving a renegade princess, trouble among the clans and/or a mysterious adventure involving the wisps and some Stonehenge-like arrangements that come into play. The left-turn taken by the script co-authored by Mark Andrews, Steve Purcell, Brenda Chapman and Irene Mecchi, from a story by Chapman, who co-directed with Andrews, might be embraced by those comforted by the familiar. But it's a move that channels the film into startlingly well-worn territory, that of a conventionally toothless and whiskered old witch (Julie Walters) willing to cast a spell to grant Merida's wish to change her mother so as to alter her own fate.

The spell, lo and behold, turns Elinor into an enormous bear, one that retains Elinor's brain and heart but cannot speak. Thus ensues a lot of not-so-hot slapstick as bear Elinor knocks about in quarters too small for her and tries to communicate while Merida feels remorse and endeavors to reverse the spell.

What results is a film that starts off big and promising but diminishes into a rather wee thing as it chugs along, with climactic drama that is both too conveniently wrapped up and hinges on magical elements that are somewhat confusing to boot. Not only is the tale laden with standard-issue fairy tale and familiar girl-empowerment tropes, but the entire project lacks the imaginative leaps, unexpected jokes and sense of fun and wonder that habitually set Pixar productions apart from the pack. Its ideas seem earthbound.

On a sensory level, however, Brave is almost entirely a delight. The wild beauty of Scotland, of the verdant forests and the craggy peaks, is lovingly rendered with a gorgeous palette of painterly colors and in very agreeable 3D. Even better, the voicings here are among the most exceptional and pleasurable of any animated film you might care to name. Working in pronounced Scottish accents that, to be sure, don't approach the often undecipherable ones heard in Ken Loach films, Scottish actors Macdonald and Connolly are a joy to listen to, as is Thompson, even if too many of the conversations are argumentative in a repetitive vein. Patrick Doyle's active and resourceful score is another major plus in a film that has played it safe instead of taking chances and going for something new.

Venue: Sydney Film Festival (opening night)
Opens: Fri,day June 22 (Disney)
Production: Pixar Animation Studios
Voices: Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters, Robbie Coltrane, Kevin McKidd, Craig Ferguson, Sally Kinghom, Eilidh Fraser, Peigi Barker, Steven Cree, Steve Purcell, Callum O'Neill, Patrick Doyle, John Ratzenberger
Directors: Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman
Co-director: Steve Purcell
Screenwriters: Mark Andrews, Steve Purcell, Brenda Chapman, Irene Mecchi, story by Brenda Chapman
Producer: Katherine Sarafian
Executive producers: John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter
Directors of photography: Robert Anderson (camera), Danielle Feinberg (lighting)
Production designer: Steve Pilcher
Editor: Nicholas C. Smith
Music: Patrick Doyle
PG rating, 93 minutes

See Original Article at The hollywood reporter

Rock of Ages: Film Review

The Bottom Line - The Poison hit featured on the soundtrack promises "Nothin' But a Good Time." If only.

Opens - June 15 (Warner Bros.)

Cast - Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta, Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand, Paul Giamatti, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Malin Akerman, Mary J. Blige, Bryan Cranston

Director - Adam Shankman

Screenwriters - Justin Theroux, Chris D'Arienzo, Allan Loeb

Julianne Hough and Diego Boneta play the small-town girl and city boy in this tribute to '80s hair metal and the L.A. rock scene, with Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Paul Giamatti and Mary J. Blige.

NEW YORK – Basically a Mamma Mia! with ‘80s hair metal in place of Abba, Rock of Ages is a jukebox musical wrapped in vinyl nostalgia that has been playing to modest but steady business on Broadway for the past three years. However, the headbanger party owes some of its notoriety to Poison frontman Bret Michaels getting accidentally brained during a production number from the show at the 2009 Tony Awards. Nobody gets clobbered in the New Line movie, but perhaps director Adam Shankman should. He succeeds in draining most of the fun from a vehicle that was all about the winking humor of its flagrant cheesiness.

Shankman did a serviceable job on New Line’s 2007 screen redo of Hairspray. But he was handed more winning material and songs crafted expressly to tell a story, not generic anthems shoehorned into a jokey construct.

Working with screenwriters Justin Theroux, Chris D’Arienzo and Allan Loeb, who adapted D’Arienzo’s original book for Rock of Ages, the director has not found a way to translate the musical’s affectionately mocking humor to film. Shankman lacks a light touch. Only when the invaluable Russell Brand is onscreen – playing a droll variation of his Get Him to the Greek character with a Nikki Sixx makeover – does this bloated, gratuitously star-laden rethink come close to hitting the right tone.

The main attraction no doubt will be Tom Cruise in another stunt performance to pair with his Tropic Thunder role. First seen in bejeweled leonine codpiece, assless chaps and some elaborate ink, emerging from beneath a blanket of hot groupies, he channels Axl Rose as Stacee Jaxx, an out-of-control rock god rarely separated from a bottle of scotch or from the monkey sidekick he calls Hey Man.

The outrageously egomaniacal characterization should be a hoot, but in truth, Cruise’s quasi-mystical sozzled intensity gets wearisome. There’s just too much of him. Instead of one great showcase number (Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive”) he gets a string of them. And in the Glee era of Auto-Tune, even his vocal prowess barely registers as a novelty. A role that should have been a tasty extended cameo instead has been built up to crowd the headliners, and frankly, they can’t withstand the competition.

In a film that continually forgets where to focus, those nominal leads are Sherrie (Julianne Hough), an Oklahoma girl fresh off the Greyhound in 1987 Los Angeles, dreaming of stardom as a singer; and Drew (Diego Boneta), an aspiring rocker working as a barback at fictitious Sunset Strip music venue the Bourbon Room (think Whisky a Go Go). Hearts are instantly aflutter when Drew comforts Sherrie after she’s mugged, getting her a waitressing job at the club.

Embodiments of the small-town girl and city boy from Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing,” Sherrie and Drew sing sweetly and make a cute pair of lovebirds, but they’re bland and uninteresting. Even in badass rocker-wear, they look like they belong in a High School Musical sequel, not a sweaty mosh pit.

Running parallel to their obstacle-strewn love story are the efforts of philandering mayor Mike Whitmore (a misused Bryan Cranston) and his family values-crusading wife Patricia (Catherine Zeta-Jones) to shut down the Bourbon and remove the depraved metallurgists threatening the moral sanctity of the city’s children.

In addition to their protests, Bourbon Room owner Dennis Dupree (Alec Baldwin) is dealing with fiscal headaches. He hopes a farewell show before Stacee quits his band to go solo will get the club back in the black. But the rock star’s unscrupulous manager, Paul Gill (Paul Giamatti), thwarts that plan. There’s also Stacee’s interview with Rolling Stone reporter Constance Sack (Malin Akerman), a confrontational encounter that makes the rocker reassess his priorities.

In a plodding script that takes two long hours to tell a thin boy-meets/loses/wins back-girl story in an elusive paradise, none of these threads provides any sense of urgency. That’s because the screenwriters and director run out of fresh ideas in the first half-hour. After that, ADHD sets in as they struggle to keep too many characters in play. Their solution is to load the film with endless multi-character song montages that do little to advance the plot. As a karaoke selection, it yields diminishing returns.

Like the stage musical, the clash between Strip denizens and conservative zealots climaxes in a musical duel that repurposes Starship’s “We Built This City” and Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It” for the respective causes. But there’s insufficient momentum for the conflict to be more than perfunctory.

For someone with a background in choreography, Shankman shows little aptitude for shooting dance numbers. A notable example is Zeta-Jones’ big song, “Hit Me With Your Best Shot.” While choreographer Mia Michaels borrows signature moves from vintage Pat Benatar videos, Patricia and her backup team of church ladies just look awkward.

Zeta-Jones appears stiff throughout the movie, while pros like Giamatti and Baldwin are wasted. Giamatti’s role relies for humor on ‘80s wardrobe crimes topped by a heinous ponytail, and Baldwin is saddled with a deadening wig as over-the-hill rock disciple Dennis. He shows glimmers of his usual sly comic spark in a handful of moments with Brand as his club technician Lonny, and their duet on REO Speedwagon’s “Can’t Fight This Feeling” is a high point.

In the stage production, Lonny served as narrator, or “rock conjurer.” Given that the livewire Brand is easily the film’s best asset, expanding rather than diminishing his role here might have been a good idea.

Mary J. Blige turns up late in the action as Justice, den mother of The Venus Club for Gentlemen, where Sherrie takes a job in her hour of need. Blige lends her soulful pipes to a few numbers, but like Cruise, she outstays her usefulness.

Production designer Jon Hutman does a solid job of recreating 1980s Sunset Strip sleaze, and costumer Rita Ryack hits the right notes in reviving contemporary fashion’s ugliest decade, without going over the top. A handful of rock and pop figures from the period show up in cameos, including Debbie Gibson, Sebastian Bach, Kevin Cronin, Nuno Bettencourt and Joel Hoekstra. But Rock of Ages neither evokes an authentic feeling to celebrate the era nor spreads much joy making fun of it. Instead, it just drones on like a limp cover version.

See Original Article at The hollywood reporter

Men in Black 3: Film Review

The Bottom Line - A decade after Part Two, the MiB franchise recovers the original's magic

Opens- Friday, May 25 (Columbia)

Cast - Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Jemaine Clement, Emma Thompson, Michael Stuhlbarg, Alice Eve, Bill Hader, David Rasche

Director - Barry Sonnenfeld

Finding smart ways to bring novelty to the franchise without forsaking what made the original so much fun (and in fact doubling down on some of those qualities), Barry Sonnenfeld's Men in Black 3 easily erases the second installment's vague but unpleasant memory and -- though we might hope producers will quit while they're ahead -- paves the way for future installments. It's hard to imagine it won't be a hit, and hard to begrudge that success, no matter how saturated we are with comic-book properties and sequels.

The script, credited solely to Etan Cohen despite many rumored contributors, finds a way to give Will Smith the lion's share of screen time while involving us more emotionally in the character of Tommy Lee Jones' Agent K. After a time-traveling villain kills K in 1969, Smith's Agent J must travel back to prevent the murder — where he discovers a youthful, less stony K (Josh Brolin, easily conjuring Jones' Texas deadpan) and can't stop wondering what happened to sap the man's joie de vivre.

The movie deploys most of its creepy-crawly ETs in the first act, with baddie "Boris the Animal" chief among them. Flight of the Conchords co-star Jemaine Clement goes full-tilt ferocious in the role, leaving fans to add their own ironic comedy to his performance (and to imagine him laughing at a repeated catchphrase we assume is intentionally horrible) while he works to live up to Rick Baker's genuinely disgusting design for the character.

Boris, who often sprouts mouthlike body cavities and has a symbiotic relationship with a projectile-spitting insect, breaks free from a moon-based prison in a high-energy opening scene. He makes his way to Manhattan, then time-travels to kill the man who once blew off his arm while foiling his plans to conquer Earth for the Boglodite species.

The film lingers just long enough in the present to introduce a replacement for Rip Torn's MiB-chief Zed: Agent O (Emma Thompson), who evidently has history with Agent K. Then it sends Smith back using a time-travel method that makes little sense — for some reason, plummeting from the Chrysler Building is required — but is a lot of fun to watch.

The pic moves briskly once back in the '60s, having a bit of fun envisioning a lower-tech version of Men in Black gear and working in pop-culture details (a nice gag involves Andy Warhol) without slowing the action a bit. The filmmakers find a convenient resolution for all chrono-conflict confusion in the person of Griffin (Michael Stuhlbarg), an alien who's able to see all possible futures simultaneously.

With Griffin as their oracle, J and K eventually wind up at Cape Canaveral for climactic action involving the launch of the first moon mission. Although some plot twists are easy to spot, they're no less satisfying for being telegraphed.

3D is as irrelevant as ever here, but fortunately the gimmick does nothing to dim the jewel tones of Bill Pope's appealing cinematography. Other production elements, like Danny Elfman's score, continue the winning look and feel established in the first film.

Opens: Friday, May 25 (Columbia)

Production companies: Amblin Entertainment, P+M Image Nation

Cast: Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Jemaine Clement, Emma Thompson, Michael Stuhlbarg, Alice Eve, Bill Hader, David Rasche

Director: Barry Sonnenfeld

Screenwriter: Etan Cohen, Based on the Malibu Comic by Lowell Cunningham

Producers: Walter F. Parkes, Laurie MacDonald

Executive producers: Steven Spielberg, G. Mac Brown

Director of photography: Bill Pope

Production designer: Bo Welch

Music: Danny Elfman

Costume designer: Mary Vogt

Editor: Don Zimmerman

PG-13, 106 minutes

See Original Article at The hollywood reporter

Death To The Install! Play Facebook Games Straight From News Feed

People don’t want to install and give data permissions to games, they want to play them, so now Facebook is allowing games to be played directly from within news feed or Timeline stories. These previews give gamers a taste and could get them over the install hurdle once they’re already addicted.

Facebook has to keep delivering growth for apps to get developers to stick around, or better yet, build for it first. Feed gaming could be a big selling point that could get devs to prioritize Facebook’s canvas over iOS, Android, Chrome web store, and other platforms that force people to download and install before the fun starts. Some of Facebook’s most popular games are already using this tactic, and you can try it out here for Angry Birds, Bubble Witch Saga, and Idle Worship.

Facebook tested feed gaming with Angry Birds earlier this month, but now any games can publish playable feed stories. They show up with a little play button over a thumbnail image in the feed or timeline, but instead of starting up a video, a flash embed of the game opens up. You can instantly start flinging birds, shooting bubbles, popping penguins or whatever. When the game round finishes, you’re often prompted to click through and install / give permissions to the full version.

You can try out feed gaming here for Angry Birds, Bubble Witch Saga, and Idle Worship.

This is going to work. The friction of having the decide whether a developer deserves your data can’t be understated. It probably drives away a ton of potential gamers. Even though most games are freemium and don’t cost anything to download, the try before you buy option means you don’t have to invest until you’re more sure you’ll actually enjoy a game.

Expect this to become a core part of the growth strategy for Facebook games. Developers will need to decide how to distill their games into a 30-second mini-experience. For some twitch games that will be easy, but for deeper strategy games it will be a challenge. They’ll also need to come up with hooks like “beat your friend’s high score” or “earn extra virtual goods by playing from the feed”.

I think people still feel guilty playing Facebook canvas games. These aren’t mobile where you can justify playing because you’re doing so on the move when you’re unable to be productive. These are web games that may be distracting you from your work, or at least communicating with your friends. When you click a link and the first thing you see is a permissions prompt, that guilt is triggered, and you shy away instead of installing.

By delaying the guilt trip data permission until after you’re already having fun, you’re much more likely to speed through the install process to get your next gaming fix. Even the most studious, serious, buttoned down business men are now going to try Facebook games, and some will end up installing and paying.

See Original Article at Techcrunch

‘G.I. Joe: Retaliation’ Moving To March 2013 To Add 3D For Bigger Foreign Box Office

The sequel G.I. Joe: Retaliation was supposed to come out GI Joe Retaliation Release Datethis summer on June 29th. But I’ve learned that Paramount is moving the movie nine months to March 29, 2013, to add 3D. “We’re going to do a conscientious 3D job because we’ve seen how it can better box office internationally,” one of the studio execs just told me. “Jim Cameron did all of Titanic‘s 3D in post and look how well that movie turned out.” Hollywood is shocked that Paramount vacated the primo date, especially because Paramount blew a wad on a Super Bowl commercial and already was starting TV and outdoor ads for GI Joe 2. Paramount has had luck delaying films before: its decision to move Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island gave the director his biggest box office hit ever. And right now, 3D is huge internationally, with Russia and China building new 3D theaters by the week. Also the execs say that the blockbuster performance of The Hunger Games shows that March can be a prime time of the year to release movies. Of course, Paramount had to talk its partners on GI Joe 2 into the extra nine months of carrying costs – MGM, which has 25%, and David Ellison’s Skydance, which has another 25%. The $125M-budgeted actioner stars Channing Tatum, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, and Bruce Willis and is directed by Jon Chu.

See Original Article at Deadline

Awesome Google Doodle Celebrates Birthday of Robert Moog with Playable Synthesizer

Google honors the legacy of Robert Moog Wednesday, the father of the modern electronic synthesizer, with what quite possibly is its most elaborate doodle yet -- a working Moog synthesizer. Wednesday marks the late music pioneer’s 78th birthday. You can play Google's virtual Moog synthesizer now in countries where it is already May 23.

The sounds of the Moog synthesizer became a recognizable part of popular music during the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Acts ranging from The Beatles to Donna Summer to Yes and the Beastie Boys have all used a Moog synthesizer.

On Wednesday (local time), visitors to Google’s main page can play with Google’s creation using the QWERTY keys of their keyboard and the arrow keys to switch between the mixer, oscillator, filter, and oscillator to tweak the sound exactly like the real thing. You can even adjust pitch using a dial on the left size of the doodle to further customize the sound.

(By the way, look closely: the lines connecting the knobs above the keyboard spell out “Goog,” an obvious play on Moog’s name.)

If you’re feeling extra creative and proud of your work, the Moog doodle will let you record your work using the tape recorder found to the right of the synthesizer. These creations can then be shared via a link or through Google+.

Rober MoogCredit: Creative CommonsThe Moog doodle is the second time a Google doodle has appeared in the form of a musical instrument. Last year, the search giant honored guitar legend Les Paul with a doodle in the form of a playable guitar. I wonder if Google will give the Moog doodle a permanent home like it did the Les Paul doodle: all we need then is a drum-themed one and you would have a band with instruments made out of Google doodles.

Until that happens, let’s hear your creations. Post your musical masterpieces in the comments below

Source :  PCWorld

Facebook Tests Timeline New Version

Facebook's Timeline profiles may be getting a redesign, but this one probably won't trigger a backlash.

 

 New Facebook Timeline being tested

The new Timeline design, spotted by TPM Livewire, condenses the biographical information at the top of the page, so it's nested within the user's banner image instead of appearing below.

Links to the user's friends list, photos, locations, and Likes are tucked neatly underneath the banner, next the user's profile picture. Alongside those links, a new button called “Summary” leads to a list of major life events.

“We can confirm this is a small test, but don’t have anything further to share at this time,” a Facebook representative told PCWorld in a statement.

 

 What the current Facebook Timeline looks like.

Facebook introduced Timelines last September as a replacement for the site's existing profile pages. Unlike the old profiles, users can add events to any point in their Timelines, even pre-Facebook, so that the page tells an entire life story. Facebook began rolling out Timeline to all users in January.

The existing design does seem a bit sloppy and in need of streamlining, so the changes that Facebook is testing probably wouldn't cause users to revolt--as is often the reaction to new designs.

Source : PCWorld

The Top 10 Games of 2012 (So Far)

The first half of the year is a great time to be a gamer. This is the time for big-budget, blockbuster games that publishers pushed beyond the holidays to avoid colliding with other major titles (such as Call of Duty), as well as for cool independently developed titles that fill the gaps in a slow release calendar. Here are the best games of 2012 so far.

 Diablo III 

The quintessential grind-loot-and-level-up RPG has returned after a 12-year hiatus. Diablo III retakes the throne as the premier way to waste hours slaying demons with your left mouse button.

 

 

 

Trials Evolution 

I'm not the first to describe Trials Evolution as "Excitebike on steroids," but there's really no better summation of the game's high-flying 2D motorcycle stunts. The sequel to 2012's Trials HD, Trials Evolution includes multiplayer, a track creator, and (thankfully) a smoother learning curve than its predecessor.

 

Fez 

On the surface, Fez seems like an innocent puzzle game with a clever gimmick: You can rotate your view of the 2D world to reveal new paths and hidden doors. But behind this change in perspective is a rabbit hole, where no video game trope is safe from deconstruction. Fez is 2012's cleverest video game so far--or, at least, the only one that really can make mush of your mind.

Mass Effect 3 

Controversial endings aside, Mass Effect 3 is the epic finale that the series deserved. Players' decisions from previous games pay off throughout, as favorite characters pop in for cameos--provided that they survived earlier battles. Gunplay feels tighter than ever, and galactic resource harvesting is breezier. What more could you want? Actually, don't answer that.

Journey 

No guns, no monsters, no violence. In Journey, you play a mysterious cloaked entity who trudges through deserts, mountains, and lost cities, aided only by other anonymous players you meet along the way. The game is no longer than a movie; compared with the escapist fare of other video games, however, the experience feels more meaningful.

 

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings 

This year, Xbox 360 owners finally get to experience a favorite among RPG-loving PC gamers, controlling Geralt of Rivia as he slashes his way through the Northern Kingdoms. The greatest trait of The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings is its moral ambiguity--it forces story-altering decisions on the player, but rarely reveals which choice is right or wrong.

SSX 

EA has reined in its previously wacky snowboarding series, pairing realistic mountains with still-unbelievable jumps and tricks. The result: a game that captures the spirit of extreme winter sports, without worrying too much about pesky reality.

 

 

 

Max Payne 3 

The forgettable film notwithstanding, Max Payne has been in the shadows for nearly a decade. The series returns without the comic-noir vibe that defined the first two games, but makes up for it with sharp dialogue mixed with scene after scene of intense gunplay. In a half-year devoid of big-budget shooters, Max shows us that he still knows how to make an entrance.

  

Draw Something

Draw Something isn't the first mobile Pictionary-style game we've seen, but its Facebook hooks, simple design, and addictive point system have made it a sensation. The game's success also made developer OMGPOP acquisition bait for social-gaming juggernaut Zynga. Draw Something is unlikely to stay cool forever, but in early 2012 it brought people together--which is exactly what social games should do.

Swordigo

People who think the iPad doesn't count as a serious gaming device probably haven't played Swordigo. This 2D sword-swinging platformer in the style of Zelda 2 is packed with smart level design and some simple RPG elements to keep players hooked. Start playing on a long flight, and you may be compelled to continue--even when you're back home with a real game console.

Source : PCWorld

Who is Priscilla Chan or Mrs. Zuckerberg

She likes Target, the Food Network and sun-dried tomatoes. She loves taking pictures of her dog Beast, and admits to checking her phone "every five seconds."

Priscilla Chan vaulted into the spotlight on Saturday when it was revealed she had married longtime boyfriend Mark Zuckerberg  billionaire and Facebook founder. The wedding, according to media reports, came within days of Chan's graduation from medical school at the University of California, San Francisco.

The two met more than nine years ago while both were studying at Harvard. In a 2005 Harvard Crimson story about Zuckerberg leaving the university, he is quoted as asking Chan, identified as a "passing friend," "Hey, Priscilla, do you want a job at the Facebook?"

"I'd love a job at Facebook," she responds while "offering him a Twizzler."

But Chan, who graduated from Harvard as a biology major in 2007, never worked for Facebook.

Instead, the Braintree, Massachusetts, native worked as a fourth- and fifth-grade science teacher at The Harker School in San Jose, California, following her graduation. On Facebook, she described her job as "hanging out with the little ones and trying to explain how the world works."
Zuckerberg updates relationship status

She left the school in June 2008 and entered medical school, according to Facebook. "Learning to be a doctor," she noted on her page.

On the UCSF web site, Chan is quoted along with other students on the school. "I was attracted by the faculty's honesty and warmth and the curriculum's inter-disciplinary approach," she said. "San Francisco's quirkiness and diversity sealed the deal."

Chan graduated from Harvard in 2007. A picture posted on another of her Facebook pages shows her in a cap and gown next to Zuckerberg, who was wearing his trademark hoodie.

In another picture from 2007, Chan writes she is with Zuckerberg at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, noting, "My date was wearing shoes!"

In March 2011, the couple adopted Beast -- and, of course, set up a Facebook page for him.

"I am a Puli, which is a type of Hungarian sheepdog," according to Beast's page. "I live in Palo Alto with Mark and Cilla. I like cuddling and herding things."

On his page, Beast is shown lying on Chan's computer keyboard as she looks at the screen; peering into the fridge for a snack; and describing his "favorite thing in the world ... pooping on Mark's white rug."

Beast is also shown on Chan's page, which had been updated as of Sunday to show her married to Zuckerberg.

However, her pages also show a keen sense of humor. She writes that she "loves cooking and soft things" and enjoys diet A&W. "I am a simple creature," she writes.

One with the power to help change the world: Zuckerberg told ABC News this month that dinner table conversations with Chan helped him formulate an organ-donation initiative on Facebook.

"She's going to be a pediatrician, so our dinner conversations are often about Facebook and the kids that she's meeting," he said. Chan told him, he added, of patients "getting sicker as they don't have the organ that they need."

According to her Facebook page, Chan speaks English, Spanish and Cantonese. Zuckerberg told ABC that Chan inspired him to try to learn Mandarin Chinese in one year. The venture wasn't very successful, he said, but he picked up enough to talk with Chan's elderly grandmother.

Source: CNN

Facebook vs. Google, Who Will Win?

Facebook is now officially a public company, scads of new millionaires are on a Silicon Valley spending spree, and media outlets near and far have yet to pipe down about the IPO, likely one of the most anticipated in history.

But is the long-term viability and success of Facebook a slam dunk?  You’d think so, considering 900 million people on the planet use the social network now valued at nearly $105 billion.

Not everybody thinks so.

The Telegraph’s Michael Deacon says he was once addicted to Facebook but now thinks its users hardly have anything to say on it compared with Twitter, which he calls “magnetic” because it “incessantly breaks and circulates news.” He even goes as far to say Facebook in a few years will “be as sad and lonely a ghost town as MySpace.”

I wouldn’t go quite that far, but he makes some valid points. Many people have grown tired of Facebook and do prefer alternate social networks, such as Google+.

Google certainly is serious about social and it’s no secret that Facebook wants more of Google’s advertising, but who will come out on top?


Social Networking Rivalry

Yes, Facebook has a huge head start in social compared to Google, but Google+ users tend to be fiercely loyal because, honestly, it’s a great -- albeit very different -- product .

Unlike Facebook, Google+ is where you’re more likely to engage with strangers -- many of whom reach out from countries around the world.

Just this morning I had a Google+ chat with a blogger from India who, even though he uses both Facebook and Google+, was only able to reach me through the latter where in seconds we were having a conversation about the merits of both social networks. Such contact wouldn’t have happened on Facebook because my Facebook friends are all in the U.S. and most of them know me personally, which means I keep my chat disabled because I don’t want people I haven’t seen in 20 years messaging me every time I check my stream.

Eric Norstrom, a molecular and cellular neurobiologist, is another person with whom I’ve connected through Google+.

Here’s how he aptly puts it:

“G+ is not FB, Twitter, or anything else. It's G+. It's great for content aggregation and collaboration in addition to the services provided by the other major social apps. It's not people bleating on a street corner. It's more like, you walk down a street and don't see anyone, but then you go into a building and you find that there's a party going on. Not only that, it's a good party with interesting people talking about things you care about and leaving out things you don't. Less noise, more signal.”

He’s right about Google+ being a more lively place to hang out. You’re not likely to see inane posts -- most contain photos, videos or links to other interesting content."

Google’s Many Products are an Advantage

While there certainly were some privacy concerns when Google said it would share user data across its products, it can’t be denied that the company has created a slick and seamless experience for users. 

On my Android phone I use Places, Maps and Navigation, YouTube, Voice, Talk, Calendar, Drive, Goggles, and Play Music, and many of these apps sync to the cloud for integration to the desktop.

In essence, Google has a very large window into what I’m doing, where I’m going, what I’m watching, and who I’m talking to. And this window stays open for much of every day I’m online or using my phone.

While Facebook also garners data from me when I’m on its network, I’m not there very often, relatively speaking.

Battle Over Advertising

Facebook has many fans, is growing on a billion users, and now has a big pile of money with which to continue to innovate  For instance, the company recently said that at some point it could launch an advertising network to display ads outside of its platform. That would be huge and put the company in a much better place to compete with Google.

CNET’s Rafe Needlemanwrote a great piece summing up the many ways Facebook and Google’s trajectories cross, particularly when it comes to advertising. And as he points out, both companies have their strengths.

“The infusion of public IPO money will embolden Facebook to take on Google directly in areas where it's clearly weaker -- primarily advertising, but also search and mobile. Google will defend its turf while simultaneously attacking Facebook in social (and hopefully in identity services),” he writes.

That last part -- identity services that let you sign into a Website or account using your Facebook credentials -- is definitely something Facebook has a good hold on, and as Needleman points out, it’s something Google needs to get better at marketing.

But Google is kicking it with mobile. CEO Larry Page, in a letter to investors last month said the company is “seeing a hugely positive revenue impact from mobile advertising, which grew to a run rate of over $2.5 billion by the third quarter of 2011 -- two and a half times more than at the same point in 2010.”

Can Facebook figure out how to get some of that pie? It had better -- its users are now using the social network more from their mobile devices than from their desktops.

If it doesn’t, Michael Deacon’s dire prediction about Facebook might just come true.

Source : PCWORLD

Upcoming Movies : June

Few attractive and creative movies will be  release in theaters next month. IMDB have lot of information about that.

Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)

 

In a twist to the fairy tale, the Huntsman ordered to take Snow White into the woods to be killed winds up becoming her protector and mentor in a quest to vanquish the Evil Queen.

Director: Rupert Sanders

Stars: Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron, Ray Winstone

 More information: IMDB

Piranha 3DD (2012)

After the events at Lake Victoria, the pre-historic school of blood-thirsty piranhas make their way into a newly opened waterpark.

Director: John Gulager

Stars: Danielle Panabaker, Ving Rhames, David Hasselhoff, Katrina Bowden

               

 More information: IMDB

Battlefield America (2012)

A young businessman hires an instructor to turn a group of misfit kids into a team on the underground dance competition circuit.

Director: Chris Stokes

Stars: Marques Houston, Mekia Cox, Christopher Jones, Lynn Whitfield

               

 More information: IMDB

Prometheus (2012)

A team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race.

Director: Ridley Scott

Stars: Noomi Rapace, Logan Marshall-Green, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron

    

 More information: IMDB

           

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012)

Alex, Marty, Gloria and Melman are still fighting to get home to their beloved Big Apple. Their journey takes them through Europe where they find the perfect cover: a traveling circus, which they reinvent - Madagascar style.

Directors: Eric Darnell | Tom McGrath | Conrad Vernon

Stars: Ben Stiller, Jada Pinkett Smith, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer

               

 More information: IMDB

Rock of Ages (2012)

Set in 1987 Los Angeles, Drew and Sherrie are two young people chasing their dreams in the big city. When they meet, it's love at first sight, though their romance will face a series of challenges.

Director: Adam Shankman

Stars: Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta, Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin

 More information: IMDB

Brave (2012)

Determined to make her own path in life, Princess Merida defies a custom that brings chaos to her kingdom. Granted one wish, Merida must rely on her bravery and her archery skills to undo a beastly curse.

Directors: Mark Andrews | Brenda Chapman | Steve Purcell

Stars: Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters

               

 More information: IMDB

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012)

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, discovers vampires are planning to take over the United States. He makes it his mission to eliminate them.

Director: Timur Bekmambetov

Stars:Benjamin Walker, Rufus Sewell, Dominic Cooper, Mary Elizabeth Winstead

 More information: IMDB

G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2012)

The G.I. Joes are not only fighting their mortal enemy Cobra; they are forced to contend with threats from within the government that jeopardize their very existence.

Director: Jon M. Chu

Stars: Channing Tatum, Dwayne Johnson, Ray Park, Bruce Willis

 More information: IMDB

Avengers sets second box office record

The Avenger sets 2^nd box office record. They scored $ 103.2 million on second week after scoring the huge ever US opening weekend, with takings of $207.4 million. It’s the first time pass $ 100 million for second week ever by a movie. Actually Tony Stark and crew were not satisfied with just one weekend record. Super heroes of each movies set for this movie.the Avengers get 8.7 rate from 150 000+ users in IMDB.

They ready to protect the world against Nick Fury and loki. The movie has edited very creatively, sensitively and correctly. Every super hero has a good part and they have good connection with others. That was the secret of the success in the Avengers said by Joss Whedon. Johnny Depp's Dark Shadows opened last Friday and it isn’t success very much. Indeed, 2012 is a better year for super hero’s trend. Spider man and bat man will come to theaters next. More viewers hope, the Dark knight rises will beat The Avengers. 

Top 3 movies 2012, you can’t miss

We are talking about best 3 movies after May and before the world end (23.12.2012).

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

 The movie will be the biggest trend of the year. This is the 4^th product after lord of the rings trilogy. Movie’s storyline blow to history again. The hobbits are creating on fantasy base. The Film will release on 14 December 2012 (USA). You can know more, IMDB or BLOG or FACEBOOK.

The Dark Knight Rises

Many bat man’s movies released last 20 years. But the dark knight (2008) changes the trend and this is the second creation. This time cat women join with Bruce wayne. The Dark Knight returns to protect a gotham city. Movie will release on 20 July 2012 (USA) which estimated $250,000,000 budget. You can know more, IMDB or WEB SITE or FACEBOOK.

The Amazing Spider-Man  

This is the 4th product of Spiderman collection. This time Peter Parker finds a reason for his parents disappeared. The movie has a 3D version. You can visit , IMDB or FACEBOOK.

DVDs and Blu-rays will release with new Piracy Warnings.

The U.S. government adds New Unskippable Piracy Warnings for DVDs & Blu-rays. You have to wait a total of 20 seconds for 2 previews.  So 10 seconds for each one. First preview have old FBI warning logo and Special Agent badge. The special agent logo belongs to Homeland Security Investigations.  There is a warning under the two badges.

“The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by federal law enforcement agencies and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250 000.”

Next preview has the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center's seal. You can guide more information the IPR Center website about this new section.

 New policies protect movie’s copyrights but customers must waste 20 seconds.

Battleship review

WAY better than expected. This is a transformers type movie. The people will be enjoying who love decent action movies.

Months ago, I went CRAZY when i watched the trailers. A few days ago, reading the bad reviews really lowered my expectation. I decided not to waste my money on this. Yesterday two of my friends, who are not big fans of action movies, told me that this movie is OK, not a disaster! So i thought, "what the heck, let's give it a shot."

Today i watched this movie and it TOTALLY made my day! While watching this movie i was actually waiting for bad parts. Surprisingly, i was entertained the whole time! Especially the action scenes made me go, "Oh My God! Damn! Holy S***!" You have to watch it to believe it... trust me, it's THAT Awesome!

 I thought the acting was good and Rihanna was impressive, not great. But, impressive. This movie will be one of best action movies 2012. But The Dark Knight Rise will be more attractable.