Sunday, June 23, 2013
BREAKOUT ACTRESS MELISSA Mc CARTHY IN “THE HEAT”
FBI Special Agent Sarah Ashburn (Sandra Bullock) – the Fed – and Boston cop Shannon Mullins (Melissa McCarthy) – the Fuzz – couldn’t be more incompatible. But when they join forces to bring down a ruthless drug lord, they become the last thing anyone expected: buddies.
At the helm of “The Heat” is Paul Feig, the movie takes a look at the odd couple pairing of two law enforcement officials who, to their everlasting shock, slowly find themselves on the same page. The Ashburn-Mullins dynamic is akin to that eternal physics problem about an irresistible force meeting an immovable object. Only, here, it’s hard to tell who is which. Ashburn is ambitious, talented, brainy, and possesses Sherlock Holmes-like powers of deduction and intuition. She’s always the smartest person in the room, and isn’t shy about letting everyone know it. Mullins grew up on the streets of Boston, and has a shoot-from-the-hip (and mouth) style of dealing with crime and its perpetrators. She’s the “yang” to Ashburn’s “yin.”
To cast Mullins, Feig looked no further than his Bridesmaids breakout star, Melissa McCarthy. “On Bridesmaids, Melissa became my hero,” he says. “So, about 15 pages into reading THE HEAT, the idea of casting her just snapped into my head. The script, which was already hilarious, got ten times funnier when I read it while imagining Melissa as Mullins. “Melissa will commit to a role so hardcore it will shock you,” Feig continues. “It’s hard to realize that it’s Melissa inside that character.”
The tightly-wrapped Ashburn isn’t Mullins’ only headache. She’s also dealing with her out-of-control family. After arresting her own brother (played by starring cast member Michael Rapaport) for dealing drugs, Mullins is ostracized by the other members of her clan, including her mom, dad, four brothers, and for good measure, her brothers’ girlfriends. Says Feig: “Mullins arrested her brother and threw him in jail, in order to save him – sort of a forced rehab. But to the rest of her family, this is an unforgivable betrayal, and she’s a traitor. It’s a very tight-knit family, but they have a very interesting way of showing it.”
“I’ve been beating people up for two months; it’s very cathartic,” joked Melissa McCarthy during the production of THE HEAT. The chemistry between Bullock and McCarthy was evident from the first table read. “When we read the script [together] for the first time, Melissa and I would make the same faces, simultaneously,” Bullock recalls. “Our rhythms are different, but we worked so well together, they began to click. We made so many connections; it’s something I never thought I would have on this level.”
The strength of the Bullock-McCarthy dynamic, evident even then, inspired additional script fine-tuning. “By the end of that first read, it was obvious that Sandy and Melissa really inhabited these characters, and that it was up to Katie Dippold and me to take all that magic and get it into the script – and really let the women fly,” says Feig.
For screenwriter Dippold, the process was liberating. “Sandy and Melissa took what was on the page and made it funnier than I thought it could ever be,” she says. A particular favorite came during a Mullins’ tirade against her captain (played by Tom Wilson) – accusing him of lacking a set of testes – when he refuses her demand to boot Ashburn from the case. “Melissa really ran with the one scripted line, ‘Have you seen the captain’s balls?’ and turned it into something spectacular.”
“The Heat” opens June 27 in theaters nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.
Friday, June 14, 2013
DESPICABLE ME 2: They are BACK !!!
Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment’s worldwide blockbuster Despicable Me entertained audiences around the globe in 2010, grossing more than $540 million and becoming the 10th-biggest animated motion picture in U.S. history. Get ready for more Minion madness in Despicable Me 2.
Chris Meledandri and his acclaimed filmmaking team create an all-new comedy adventure featuring the return of (former?) super-villain Gru (Steve Carell), his adorable girls, the unpredictably hilarious Minions...and a host of new and outrageously funny characters.
Now that the ever-entrepreneurial Gru has left behind a life of super crime to raise Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier) and Agnes (Elsie Fisher), Gru, Dr. Nefario (Russell Brand) and the Minions have some free time on their hands.
But just as he starts to adjust to his role as a suburban family man, an ultra-secret organization dedicated to fighting evil around the globe comes knocking. Now, it’s up to Gru and his new partner, Lucy Wilde (Kristen Wiig), to discover who is responsible for a spectacular crime and bring him to justice. After all, it takes the world’s greatest ex-villain to catch the one vying to take his place…
Joining the returning cast for Despicable Me 2 are Ken Jeong as Floyd Eagle-san, proprietor of the local hair replacement club for men and key suspect in the most despicable crime to hit the globe since Gru departed the game; Steve Coogan as Silas Ramsbottom, Lucy’s boss in the Anti-Villain League and a superspy whose surname offers an endless source of amusement to the Minions;
Moises Arias as Antonio, the oh-so-suave object of Margo’s girlhood affection (and Gru’s supreme annoyance); and Benjamin Bratt as Eduardo Perez, Antonio’s father, owner of Salsa & Salsa restaurant, and the man who may or may not be the most macho super-villain who ever villained, El Macho.
“Despicable Me 2” is released and distributed by Universal Pictures/United Intl. Pictures through Solar Entertainment Corp.
TOYCON 2013: Philippines
It’s a clash of two gigantic events in the metro! A crossover event you’ll never dare miss. Collectibles Unlimited and HERO TV present TOYCON 2013 Year 12 and HERO FACE OFF 2013: The Ultimate Cosplay Battle!
Worlds will collide when two of the biggest events in the country meet in a spectacular fashion and merge to make one mega crossover celebration. The biggest pop-culture event in the Philippines, the 2013 TOYCON, now on its 12th year, joins forces with the biggest Cosplay event in the country: the HERO Face-Off, the Philippines Cosplay qualifier to the World Cosplay Summit. Get ready to witness true awesomeness as your senses are bombarded with the best of the pop culture scene in film, animation, comics, gaming, toys and collectibles, art and music.
The event culminates in the best of anime and cosplay as HERO TV gathers high caliber cosplayers all over the country to face off onstage and compete for the top prize to experience an all-expense paid trip to Nagoya Japan to attend the World Cosplay Summit 2013 in August.
HERO TV Face Off 2013: The Ultimate Cosplay Battle, now on its 4th year celebrates Pinoy creativity through costume playing and annually sends globally competitive cosplayers to prestigious cosplay events outside the country. Watch out as cosplayers from all over the Philippines duel each other in three categories: The Kids Squad Category, League of Heroes Category and Face Off Category on June 16 at SM Megatrade Hall 3.
TOYCON 2013 will also feature the most-anticipated Hollywood movies. Blast off with the first and the greatest superhero as we celebrate Superman’s 75th anniversary with the Man of Steel exhibit and merchandise. Go big, or go extinct with the earth-shattering Pacific Rim display.
Feast your eyes on the finest samples of toys and collectibles as the TOYCON gallery features the best of Hot Toys, Enterbay, Revoltech, Play Imaginative, Sideshow and other high-end collectible brands. Also celebrate the best of Philippine toy art with the top local collectibles creators.
Get inside the talent, as artists and creators from the local comic book scene mix it up with the best toy customizers, game designers and animators to come up with truly unique offerings. The TOYCON will feature guest local artists who have worked on DC, Marvel and their acclaimed creator-owned titles. Panel discussions on comics, toy collecting and customizing, cosplay and gaming will bring the fans into an interactive adventure with the creators.
It’s cowabunga time when you meet and greet two of the world famous Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in an activity booth put up solely for them at the TOYCON by Bates Licensing and Nickelodeon.
And for our gaming fans, Cherry Credits, developers of the online hit games, Dragon Nest and Avatar Star will be introducing new games and platforms at their gaming booth.
And off course, TOYCON would not be complete without the biggest exhibitor floor of all pop culture merchandise in terms of apparel, collectibles and memorabilia, graphic novels and comics, cosplay paraphernalia, and toys, toys, TOYS!
The Philippine TOYCON 2013 will be held on June 14-16, 2013 at the SM Megatrade Halls 1, 2 and 3, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City.
This is co-presented by Collectibles Unlimited, HERO TV and the SM Megatrade Halls, and sponsored by Maxi Collector, Toy Kingdom, Toy Empire, Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Warner Brothers Pictures and Pacific Licensing. With special thanks to Big Boys Toy Store, Great Toys, Revoltech, Comic Odyssey, Comicxhub, Buhawi Studio, CIIT, Bandai, Oreo, Loctite, Mozilla, and Resorts World Manila. With media partners, ABS-CBN and 99.5 PLAY FM.Also supported by Anime Alliance, One Sixth Republic and Komikon.
For more information on schedule of activities and event details please visit:
www.toyconph.com www.myheronation.com www.animealliance.asia
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
ONE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP™ ANNOUNCES THREE ADDITIONAL BOUTS FOR ONE FC: RISE TO POWER
ONE Fighting Championship™ (ONE FC), presented by Casino Filipino and in association with Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC), announced today three additional bouts for ONE FC: RISE TO POWER. Kevin Belingon will battle Masakatsu Ueda in the final of the Bantamweight Grand Prix. The winner will get a shot at the ONE FC Bantamweight Title. Plus, Eduard Folayang is back in action against Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) veteran Kamal Shalorus and fan favorite Phil Baroni will return to the famed ONE FC cage to take on the KO artist from Japan, Nobutatsu Suzuki. All the action takes place live on 31 May from the MOA Arena in Manila, Philippines.
KEVIN BELINGON VS MASAKATSU UEDA
EDUARD FOLAYANG VS KAMAL SHALORUS
PHIL BARONI VS NOBUTATSU SUZUKI
LIVE ON 31 MAY FROM THE MALL OF ASIA ARENA IN MANILA PHILIPPINES
Tickets for ONE FC: RISE TO POWER will launch in Casino Filipino branches across the Philippines starting on 22 April 2013.
Fans from around the world can witness the action online via live streaming at www.onefc.livesport.tv.
The first two undercard fights are available for viewing free-of-charge and the main card fights will be available for purchase at just US$9.99.
CEO of ONE Fighting Championship™ Victor Cui stated, “ONE FC: RISE TO POWER will feature some of the biggest names in Asian MMA as we return to the fight capital of Asia. I’m beyond excited to see Honorio Banario back in action in front of his home crowd at the state-of-the art Mall of Asia Arena. Bibiano Fernandes taking on Koetsu Okazaki has all the ingredients for a possible Fight of the Night with one of the world’s greatest pound-for-pound fighters squaring off against a Japanese submission artist who is known for his impressive grappling game. I know fans cannot wait to watch these warriors collide on 31 May.”
The Bantamweight Grand Prix Final is also set and both fighters are ready to showcase their skills in Manila to earn a shot at the biggest Bantamweight title belt in Asia.
Bantamweight GP Finalist Kevin Belingon is a Filipino MMA champion and one of the best MMA fighters ever to emerge from the Philippines. It took him a few fights to become accustomed to competing inside the ONE FC cage but once he found his rhythm, the result was spectacular as he blasted through Yusup Saadulaev and Thanh Vu in less than a round to earn a slot in the Bantamweight Grand Prix Final. Known as “The Silencer” because he prefers to let his fists and feet do the talking, Belingon is a Wushu specialist with fast hands and devastating low kicks. He says that he is in the best shape of his life and nothing can stop him from earning a shot at the coveted ONE FC Bantamweight World Championship Title. His opponent is a veteran who is not at all concerned about fighting on Belingon’s home soil on 31 May.
Masakatsu Ueda is a Bellator veteran and former Shooto Featherweight Champion, a belt he defended successfully three times. He has an outstanding 17-2-2 record which makes him one of the best Bantamweights in the world. He was a very successful college wrestler who won numerous national wrestling competitions in Japan as well as the all Japan Shooto Grappling Championship. A very well-rounded fighter, he submitted MMA legend Jens Pulver at ONE FC: KINGS & CHAMPIONS to earn a slot in the final of the Bantamweight Grand Prix. Ueda understands the magnitude of this fight and knows very well that Belingon will be the toughest test of his career.
A Lightweight bout that is sure to get the crowd on their feet will pit Filipino MMA legend Eduard Folayang against UFC veteran Kamal Shalorus.
Folayang is a legend in the Philippines where he is universally regarded as MMA’s equivalent to boxing phenomenon Manny Pacquiao. A former school teacher, he is renowned for being humble and respectful outside the cage but a determined and relentless competitor inside. The Baguio-born mixed martial artist is never in a boring fight and the sight of Folayang struggling in a tough battle, but somehow finding a way to win in the end, is one which fight fans have become accustomed to. Folayang will square off against the resilient submission specialist from Iran, Kamal Shalorus.
Shalorus was born in the city of Khalkhal in Iran. He began wrestling as a teenager before moving to the United States to train in MMA. He is a UFC and WEC veteran with notable wins over Justin Milles and Bart Palaszewski. Shalorus will need to bring it all when he steps into the ONE FC cage for the first time at ONE FC: RISE TO POWER.
Manila’s favorite slugger Phil Baroni will be back in action on 31 May when he battles up and coming Japanese mixed martial artist Nobutatsu Suzuki. Baroni has faced some of the toughest opponents in the world and is renowned for his one-punch knockout power. Despite being one of the hardest punchers to ever compete in MMA, it’s not just Baroni’s hard-hitting fists that the fans come to see. His brash and charismatic personality and inimitable swagger down the fighter’s entrance makes him one of the biggest showmen in MMA. Suzuki is the complete opposite in personality but identical in fighting style. Eight of his fights have been won via impressive KO. On 31 May, he will look to make Baroni number nine.
ONE FC: RISE TO POWER is headlined by a ONE FC Featherweight World Championship bout between reigning champion Honorio “The Rock” Banario against number one contender Koji Oishi and pound-for-pound king Bibiano Fernandes taking on Koetsu Okazaki for the ONE FC Bantamweight Interim Title. All the action takes place live from the MOA Arena in Manila, Philippines.
For more updates on ONE Fighting Championship™, please visit www.onefc.com and follow on Twitter @ONEFCMMA and Facebook at www.facebook.com/ONEFCMMA.
Monday, April 22, 2013
ONE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP Rise to Power Preview…
Filipino hometown hero Kevin "The Silencer" Belingon faces Japanese MMA superstar Masakatsu Ueda in the Final of the Bantamweight Grand Prix on 31 May at Mall of Asia Arena!
WILL YOU BE THERE TO WATCH HISTORY BEING MADE?
ONE FC: RISE TO POWER LIVE ON 31 MAY FROM SM MALL OF ASIA ARENA IN MANILA PHILIPPINES
HONORIO “THE ROCK” BANARIO TO DEFEND ONE FC FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE AGAINST KOJI OISHI
PLUS: BIBIANO “THE FLASH” FERNANDES CLASHES WITH KOETSU OKAZAKI FOR THE ONE FC BANTAMWEIGHT INTERIM TITLE
ONE Fighting Championship™ (ONE FC), in association with Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC), returns to the fight capital of Asia on Friday, 31 May, with the highly anticipated first title defense of hometown hero ONE FC Featherweight World Champion Honorio “The Rock” Banario. Banario will put it all on the line when he takes on Japanese submission specialist Koji Oishi. Plus, pound-for-pound king Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes returns to the famed ONE FC cage when he squares off against Japanese MMA sensation Koetsu Okazaki for the ONE FC Bantamweight Interim Title. All the action will take place at the 20,000-seater SM Mall of Asia Arena in what is expected to be the greatest fight card ever compiled in ONE FC history. After selling out arenas throughout Asia it is finally time for ONE FC to return to the Philippines.
CEO of ONE Fighting Championship™ Victor Cui stated, “ONE FC will be back in the fight capital of Asia on 31 May with a stacked fight card that is sure to get the adrenaline pumping for the passionate Filipino fight fans. This event could possibly be the largest in ONE FC’s history and features the top names in MMA, headlined by ONE FC Featherweight World Champion Honorio Banario. Of course, having one of the greatest fighters on earth fighting on this card in Manila is sure to be a special night for MMA. Bibiano Fernandes always brings his best when he steps into the cage. Close to 20,000 fans will pack out the SM Mall of Asia Arena to witness the greatest sporting spectacle in the world.”
Tickets for ONE FC: RISE TO POWER will launch in Casino Filipino branches across the Philippines starting on 19 April 2013.
Fans from around the world can witness the action online via live streaming at www.onefc.livesport.tv. The first two undercard fights are available for viewing free-of-charge and the main card fights will be available for purchase at just US$9.99.
ONE FC Featherweight Champion Honorio “The Rock” Banario is one of the top Mixed Martial Artists in the world today. He is a member of the legendary Team Lakay where he trains alongside fellow ONE FC fighters Eduard Folayang and Kevin Belingon under head coach Mark Sangiao. Banario comes from a Wushu background, an ancient Chinese martial art whose practitioners are recognizable by a diverse range of striking techniques. Despite his striking credentials, five of Banario’s eight wins were by submission, proving how versatile he really is. Banario captured the ONE FC crown when he defied all odds by defeating his fellow countryman Eric Kelly at ONE FC: RETURN OF WARRIORS via TKO. Banario will be looking to hold onto his title when he battles the ever so tough submission specialist from Japan, Koji Oishi.
Koji Oishi is a 35 year-old Japanese mixed martial arts veteran and former Lightweight King of Pancrase. He comes from a wrestling and karate background and is renowned for leaving everything on the line in brawls against some of the best in the business, including Chris Lytle, Carlos Condit and both of the Diaz brothers.
ONE FC Bantamweight World Champion Soo Chul Kim is currently undergoing shoulder surgery and will be out of action for an indefinite period of time. Therefore, ONE FC officials have decided that an interim ONE FC Bantamweight World Championship title will be introduced until Kim is ready to make a comeback.
Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes is undeniably one of the best fighters in the world today. His never-ending gas tank, explosive take-downs and lighting fast strikes have garnered him a huge fan base amongst Asian and international fans alike. Fernandes made his ONE FC debut in August 2012 at ONE FC: PRIDE OF A NATION where he defeated journeyman Gustavo Falciroli via unanimous decision. A veteran who has fought countless Japanese fighters, Fernandes will have his toughest test yet when he battles Japanese sensation Koetsu Okazaki.
Okazaki is the latest top Japanese fighter to sign for ONE FC and is one of the most experienced fighters in the entire bantamweight division. He is a tenacious competitor known to never back down from any opponent. Okazaki specializes in submissions but he is not afraid to go toe-to-toe with anyone if that is what it takes to get the win. Okazaki knows that a win over Fernandes will get him the global recognition that he deserves and the ONE FC Bantamweight Interim Title wrapped around his waist.
For more updates on ONE Fighting Championship™, please visit www.onefc.com and follow on Twitter @ONEFCMMA and Facebook at www.facebook.com/ONEFCMMA.
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