‘Underworld: Awakening’ tops domestic box office

LOS ANGELES: Vampires and werewolves lured moviegoers to theaters this weekend as the fourth “Underworld” film topped domestic box office charts and brought in an estimated $38.8 million around the world.

“Underworld: Awakening” stars Kate Beckinsale as a vampire leading the charge in a battle against humans trying to drive her species and the werewolves to extinction.

The fourth movie opened stronger than two of the three earlier films in the franchise, which opened in 2003. “Awakening” pulled in $25.4 million at North American (U.S. and Canadian) theaters from Friday through Sunday, plus $13.4 million from 36 international markets, distributor Sony said on Sunday.

Playing in 3,078 domestic locations, the film’s weekend sales finished “at the high end of where we hoped,” said Rory Bruer, president of worldwide distribution for Sony Pictures. Audiences were eager to see Beckinsale return to the lead role, he said. She had starred in the first two films but skipped the third.

“Awakening” is the first “Underworld” movie in 3D and cost about $70 million to produce. The movie fell flat with critics as just 24 percent gave a positive review on aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes. But audiences polled by survey firm CinemaScore awarded the movie an A-.

In second place, World War Two story “Red Tails” far exceeded studio forecasts with $19.1 million domestically.

“Red Tails” stars Terrence Howard and Cuba Gooding Jr. in a drama about Tuskegee Airmen — a black pilot group in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War Two. Producer George Lucas paid the film’s $58 million production cost plus marketing expenses, and distributor 20th Century Fox had forecast $8 million to $10 million in domestic ticket sales for weekend.

“Never in our wildest dreams did we think we could pull off a number like this,” said Chris Aronson, senior vice president for domestic distribution at 20th Century Fox. He said audiences clearly enjoyed the film, giving it an A grade in polling by CinemaScore. Critics’ reviews on Rotten Tomatoes came in at 34 percent positive.

WAHLBERG MOVIE DROPS TO THIRD
Last weekend’s winner, thriller “Contraband” starring Mark Wahlberg, finished its second weekend in theaters in third place, grabbing $12.2 million domestically.

“Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close,” a drama about a boy trying to make sense of his father’s death on 9/11, landed in fourth place with $10.5 million. The movie had opened in a small number of theaters on Christmas but expanded nationwide this weekend. The film stars Thomas Horn as the boy and Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock as his parents.

In fifth place, Steven Soderbergh-directed spy tale “Haywire” took in $9 million domestically, just beating distributor Relativity Media’s projection of about $8 million.

“Haywire” features mixed martial arts fighter Gina Carano as an operative who is double-crossed and becomes the target of assassins. While critics praised the film with an 82 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, audiences were not impressed. The film earned a D+ rating from CinemaScore.

Elsewhere this weekend, two movies that won Golden Globe awards last week expanded to more theaters.

Silent film “The Artist,” winner for best musical or comedy film, doubled last weekend’s sales with $2.4 million after moving into in 662 theaters from 446 last week.

“The Iron Lady,” which won Meryl Streep best actress at the Globes for her role as Margaret Thatcher, dropped 32 percent from a week ago despite expanding by more than 800 theaters to 1,076 locations. The movie took in $3.7 million over the weekend.

The movie division of Sony Corp distributed “Underworld.” Time Warner Inc unit Warner Bros. released “Extremely Loud.” News Corp unit 20th Century Fox distributed “Red Tails.” The privately held Weinstein Co. released “The Artist” and “The Iron Lady.” Privately held Relativity Media released “Haywire” in the United States, and Alliance Films distributed the movie in Canada. AGENCIES

Lauren Scruggs: Recovering Nicely

The first photos of Lauren Scruggs appeared today on Good Morning America. The photos show that she is still looking great.

For those of you who do not know Lauren Scruggs is the model that walked into an airplane propeller after sightseeing the Christmas Lights throughout Dallas six weeks ago. She meet with her mother, father, and twin sister Tuesday in the outdoor area of Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation located in Dallas, Texas and she was smiling, laughing, and joking according to sources. This has been the first time that the media has been able to see her since the accident. Tuesday Lauren was spotted wearing an baseball cap and workout attire. The only thing that indicated that she had been injured was her empty jacket sleeve and the eye patch.

Lauren’s mom Cheryl Scruggs says that the family’s faith is what helped her recover remarkably even though it is hard to listen to Lauren’s tears. Currently, there is a Lauren Scruggs Hope Fund available to those who would be interested in contributing to Lauren Scruggs recovery.

This story seems as though it will have a happy ending. Sources say that Lauren Scruggs, 23, seemed to have a great time on Tuesday.

Be sure to visit trendpk.com where this article was originally published for more celebrity gossip and celebrity news.

Are Maria Shriver & Arnold Schwarzenegger Getting Back Together?

Maria Shriver & Arnold Schwarzenegger’s very public breakup is back in the spotlight with speculation running wild as to whether they are getting back together. Apparently Shriver is considering taking Schwarzenegger back. The estranged couple spent Christmas together with their three children; Katherine, 22, Christina, 20, Patrick, 18, and Christopher, 14.

Over the last few days Schwarzenegger has been photographed wearing his wedding ring. Today TMZ has reported that Shriver has now been spotted wearing something on her ring finger but it’s unclear if it’s actually her wedding ring. The couple has been seen frequently together since announcing their separation in May last year. And both have been making an effort to keep their separation amicable.

It has also been reported that a major factor is her religious beliefs; she is a devout catholic, who don’t believe in divorce. And apparently Arnold has been going to great lengths to try and win her back by showering her with gifts.

Jude Law and Sienna Miller Split Up

Jude Law and Sienna Miller have called it a day on their relationship. They have had an on again off again relationship so this may just be another temporary split. But reps for Law have stated;

“I can confirm that Jude Law and Sienna Miller are no longer in a relationship.”

They were engaged in Christmas 2004, they separated in 2006 but then reconciled in 2009. A friend of the actors has been quoted by People magazine in regards to their latest split;

“It is mutual and amicable and they are still friends.”

It has come as a shock as it was only two months ago that they bought an £8million property in London together, this encouraged speculation that they were planning to marry next.

Both the actors have a busy 2011, Miller is set to star in a romantic comedy with Ashton Kutcher and Law is currently working on the Sherlock Holmes sequel.

Less invasive body scanner software being tested at US airports

As the uproar over the government’s use of pat-downs and full-body scanners at airports ebbs, new technology is being tested that is designed to allay privacy concerns over the grainy nude images produced by the machines.

The technology displays a generic stick figure instead of a grainy nude image when passengers are scanned. The TSA hopes it will allay privacy concerns raised over the new security procedures.

Scanners being tested in three US airports starting this week will display for screeners a generic stick figure, and any suspicious object on a passenger’s body will be flagged for inspection by a pale red box on the drawing. A passenger cleared to go will see the screen flash green and read OK. The software debuts as complaints by air travelers over the new security measures have remained relatively low. Of the 100 million fliers that have passed through airport checkpoints since Nov. 1, the Transportation Security Administration has received fewer than 5,500 complaints about the procedures.And most of those complaints, TSA officials said, were not from individuals who were flying. Fewer than 800 complaints about the pat-downs and 300 complaints about the full-body scans were lodged by actual travelers. The rest came from individuals who had not gone through the procedures but nonetheless complained about them, TSA officials said.The software being tested would be used to replace the revealing images generated by millimeter wave scanners and currently viewed by a TSA agent in a separate room. The new computer program identifies hidden foreign objects and indicates to TSA searchers where to look during a pat-down. Full-body scanners are able to detect non-metallic items, such as the explosives used in the attempted Christmas Day bombing in 2009, TSA Administrator John Pistole said at a demonstration of the new software Tuesday. The TSA instituted the new procedures in response to an elevated threat to airlines after a thwarted mail bomb plot originating in Yemen in October.Though the new software could address privacy concerns, it does not answer complaints about the radiation from another type of scanner, called a backscatter, that works using low-dose X-rays. Studies have shown that passengers would have to pass through a backscatter machine 5,000 times before being exposed to the same amount of radiation in a single chest X-ray.There are 486 body scanners in use in 88 airports, according to the TSA, up from 365 in 68 airports in November. TSA officials said publicly in November they hoped to have more than 1,000 body scanners in place by the end of 2011, but uncertainty over budget negotiations in Congress could hamper that goal.

Brangelina give $2M to African wildlife care

WINDHOEK: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie spent Christmas at an African wildlife sanctuary, where they left a $2 million donation under the tree.

The Hollywood power couple was in Namibia, where daughter Shiloh was born in 2006, and stayed at the N/a”an ku sê Wildlife Sanctuary, which takes care of injured animals like cheetahs and lions. The sanctuary is run by conservationists Dr. Rudie van Vuuren and his wife Marlice, according to People magazine.

“We continue to be impressed by their hard work and dedication to the people and conservation of the land and wildlife of Namibia,” Jolie said.

According to the news agency, the stars and their six kids saw a leopard get reintroduced to the wild, and Dr. van Vuuren work on a wounded wild dog.

The sanctuary takes care of mostly orphaned and injured animals that cannot be released back into the wild, and it also offers a luxury resort which raises money for conservation projects.

“We continue to be impressed by their hard work and dedication to the people and conservation of the land and wildlife of Namibia,” Jolie said in a statement.

The African nation also holds some sentimental value for the actress – daughter Shiloh was born in Swakopmund, Namibia, in 2006. Jolie explained, “We want her to grow up with an understanding of her country of birth.”

Salman-Kate to meet in Dubai

MUMBAI: Katrina Kaif is planning to fly down to Dubai and bring in the New Year with her ex-friend Salman Khan and his family.

“Katrina has been seen bonding again with Salman and his family lately. She was spotted at his Tees Maar Khan trial and then went to wish him before he left for Dubai to bring in his birthday with an entourage of forty friends and family members,” says a source,

“The actor will return on the morning of December 31 to shoot Bigg Boss and will then fly back to welcome 2011 with his near and dear ones. It is learnt that Katrina will fly down tomorrow to be with Salman and his family.”

“Salman”s parents, Salim and Salma, Helen, brothers Arbaaz, Sohail, sisters Alvira and Arpita and their children are all in Dubai, though some friends have returned. Kat might even fly down with Salman tomorrow to Dubai depending on when she wraps up for her Yash Raj Films film.”

However, the actress wants to keep her visit secret, the source insists. “Last year she had apparently visited Ranbir Kapoor in New York while he was shooting for Anjaana Anjaani. Katrina is keen to get back into the Khan family fold again but she doesn”t want the media know about it.

Last week, she was very upset when she had gone to wish Salman a day before his birthday (on Christmas) at his Bandra residence and photographers had caught her in the act. Right now, Katrina is still testing the waters with Salman,” said the source.

However, the actress has denied any plans of going to Dubai, “I am shooting Mere Brother Ki Dulhan with YRF till January 31. If weather permits, I may go to London for a day.”

Alanis Morissette welcomes baby boy on Christmas Day

Alanis Morissette, who once played God in two Kevin Smith films, gave birth to a son over Christmas weekend.

Isn’t it ironic?

The singer-actress welcomed Ever Imre Morissette-Treadway on Christmas Day with her husband, Mario ‘Souleye’ Treadway, according to People.

“All are healthy and happy,” a rep confirmed.

Akshay’s New Year performance before Christmas

Everyone wondered why Akshay Kumar dedicated his performance at Reliance Broadcast Network’s Big Star awards held last week in Mumbai, to the New Year when it wasn’t even Christmas time as yet!
It turned out that Akshay’s performance was targeted at being telecast on New Year’s Eve on a channel. But to the awards nominees who were present at the venue of the awards on Tuesday evening it did appear mighty odd that Akshay was singing and dancing about the New Year 9 days in advance.
Said one of the stars present at the awards, “It was quite funny, really. Akshay was welcoming the year 2011 on December 21 2010. We all wondered if he was trying to prove he was ahead of his times.”
When contacted, Tarun Katial, Chief Executive Officer Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd, explained, “Akshay’s New Year gig was part of his Tees Maar Khan act. Since his performance was going to be part of the telecast of our awards on New Year’s Eve we decided to include it.”
Incidentally, live performances at other awards functions, if targeted at a specific date, are recorded separately from the function.
Says Akshay, “The New Year bit was part of my Tees Maar Khan act. Anything for my film. Also, Mr Bachchan came and joined me on stage for an impromptu jig. After that time ceased to matter for me. I didn’t care if it was Christmas or New Years.”

Boxing Day Test: England rout Australia for 98

England tour of Australia, 4th Test: Australia v England at Melbourne
Australia 98
England 157/0 (47.0 ov)
England lead by 59 runs with 10 wickets remaining in the 1st innings
It was meant to be Boxing Day, not Boxing Australia Around the Ears Day. Within three sessions of complete England dominance at the MCG, they moved to within touching distance of retaining the Ashes by dismissing Australia for 98 and passing their total with no wickets down, leaving Ricky Ponting requiring a late Christmas miracle to avoid leading Australia to three Ashes series failures.
Chris Tremlett and James Anderson collected four wickets each, backing up Andrew Strauss’s decision to send the hosts in, before Strauss and Alastair Cook showed that with discipline, batting wasn’t that hard on a pitch with a little juice in it. The day could not possibly have gone better for England, who finished at 0 for 157 with Strauss on 64, Cook on 80, a hefty first-innings advantage in prospect and a 2-1 series lead on the horizon.
For Australia, it was up there with the opening day at Headingley against Pakistan this year, in terms of disastrous cricketing dates. Back then they chose to bat and managed only 88, but this time there was one slight difference – their dismal performance will probably cost them the Ashes. Not since 1936 had they scored a lower Ashes total at home, and that was in the days of uncovered pitches. It took Tremlett, Anderson and Tim Bresnan less than two sessions to run through the order as they hit consistent lines and kept the runs tight. They also exposed Australia’s team-wide inability to handle seam movement and swing, which is no great revelation but could not be ignored in front of 84,345 fans on the biggest day in the Australian cricket calendar. Every batsman fell to an edge caught behind the wicket, six to the wicketkeeper Matt Prior, two to slips and two to gully. Too many men played with hard hands away from their bodies, and they struggled to work out which deliveries to leave and which ones to play. The questions that the batting coach Justin Langer must consider surround not only technique, but also judgment. England picked up four wickets before the first break and in one particularly impressive patch they collected 3 for 0, as Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson all failed to make solid contact with the face of the bat. A rain delay had extended lunch by nearly an hour, but even that wasn’t enough to help the Australians survive until the scheduled tea break. But England’s bowlers certainly earned their wickets, especially the early strikes. Shane Watson was dropped twice on 0, as Paul Collingwood at slip and Kevin Pietersen at gully denied Anderson an early breakthrough. It was a sign of things to come, and Watson had only made 5 when he was surprised by sharp bounce from Tremlett and fended a loopy catch to Pietersen. Soon afterwards, Phillip Hughes (16) tried to cover-drive and edged to gully to hand Bresnan his first Ashes wicket, and without further addition to the score the Australians also lost Ricky Ponting. Again it was the rising ball from Tremlett that did the job, and this one nipped away significantly off the pitch, so much so that Ponting, on 10, did well to even get bat on ball as his edge flew to second slip. Australia’s recent saviour, Michael Hussey, joined the procession in the last over before lunch, when Anderson produced a pearler that moved away from Hussey and found a thin edge through to Prior. Then came the rain, an early and prolonged lunch, and after the break the dismissals got a bit softer, as Australia’s middle order failed to exercise due caution. The hosts want Steven Smith in the side for his energy and all-round talent, but as a Test No. 6 his technique needs a lot of work, and all it took was a probing delivery outside off stump from Anderson to draw an edge behind when Smith had 6. The top scorer Michael Clarke, who made 20, also wafted outside off at a ball he could have left, and edged behind off Anderson. And 5 for 77 soon became 8 for 77 when Haddin drove at Bresnan and gave Strauss a catch at first slip, before Johnson tickled a catch to Prior off Anderson. A few late runs came via Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle before Tremlett finished off the tail to finish with 4 for 26, a much deserved return after he was the best of the bowlers early, extracting bounce from a pitch expected to be as stodgy as leftover Christmas pudding. By the time Australia bowled, it looked like any spice in the pudding had lost its kick. In reality, they just didn’t bowl well enough, while Cook and Strauss defended solidly and left the right balls, also ticking the score along by chasing the bad deliveries, like an uppish cut to the vacant third-man area from Cook when he was given width. That Strauss and Cook both registered half-centuries before stumps was the perfect finale for the visitors, and Cook was already within sight of his third hundred of the series. Australia’s four-man pace attack had little impact – Michael Beer was made 12th man again – and by the close, Smith had tossed up a few overs of unthreatening legbreaks, including one that was slog-swept almost for six by Cook. Smith wasn’t born last time England won the Ashes in Australia, in 1986-87. He’s about to see it happen first-hand.

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