'Dark Knight Rises' Buildup Brings Year Of Questions, Expectations

Despite trailer, Christopher Nolan's Batman film is shrouded in secrecy.
By Eric Ditzian


Christian Bale in "The Dark Knight Rises"
Photo: Warner Bros.

The "Dark Knight Rises" trailer left the MTV News movie staff with a whole fresh set of questions: Is Robin really in the movie? Why is Bruce Wayne walking with a cane? But in a way, there was something very familiar about our state of mind after checking out the new footage.

That's because, since the beginning of the year, we've been consumed with burning questions about Christopher Nolan's third Batman film. And at every turn, we'd tried to get answers to those questions, hitting up the film's stars time and time again. Sometimes, we came away with new insights. Sometimes, answers only led to another set of queries. There's something exasperating about this whole endeavor — but also something awesome. And the movie doesn't even hit theaters for another seven months.

When it does finally arrive, will the film deliver a definite end point to the story line Nolan and his cohorts have been spinning since 2005's "Batman Begins"? After all, Nolan himself promised us back in February, before production even began on the project, that it would: "We're very much excited about really finishing a trilogy and giving a conclusion to our story," he said. "And that's what we're doing."

By the end of the year, after shooting had wrapped, co-star Gary Oldman assured us Nolan had stuck to that promise. "There's a conclusion," he said. "[Nolan] brings and he touches on the first [film, 'Batman Begins'] and he weaves it in, and it resolves. And I think it's a trilogy, but it's just great. The story is terrific. I mean, it's just epic."

So, a tiny bit of confirmation there. Yet Oldman also laughed afterward, "I can't say anything!" That was a theme we heard repeated again and again during the year. When we asked Joseph Gordon-Levitt if his character was Robin, he answered, "You know I can't have this conversation!" When we pressed Tom Hardy about his role as the villain Bane, he exclaimed, "I can't [talk about it], so let's have another question!" And when we wondered whether Marion Cotillard was telling us the truth when she claimed her character, contrary to rumor, would not in fact turn out to be Talia al Ghul, the daughter of "Batman Begins" villain, Ra's al Ghul, the actress responded with a sly smile, "I am!"

We're not sure what's more impressive: Nolan's oeuvre or his ability to keep his actors' lips sealed. They would, however, say one thing without worrying about giving up a "Dark Knight Rises" spoiler: Everyone loves Nolan. "It's genius, what he does," Hardy shared. Cotillard told us, "It's amazing to work on Christopher Nolan's set," while Nestor Carbonell added, "He's one of these amazing storytellers."

If anyone could sum up the year in "Dark Knight Rises" news, though, it was Liam Neeson, who may or may not actually be in the movie (though we're pretty sure he is) and who told us simply that he doesn't have "a f---ing clue what it's about!"

Well put, Mr. Neeson. Us too. But we can't wait to find out.

Check out everything we've got on "The Dark Knight Rises."

For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1676426/dark-knight-rises-news-2011.jhtml

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Britney Spears' Engagement Ring: How Does It Stack Up?

From Kim and Kris' monster-size rock to Beyoncé and Jay-Z's 18-carat mega-sparkler, we dish on the diamonds.
By Jocelyn Vena


Jason Trawick and Britney Spears in Las Vegas. Inset: her Neil Lane enagement ring.
Photo: Denise Truscello/WireImage

After Britney Spears confirmed her engagement to longtime beau Jason Trawick last Friday, fans wanted to know everything about the ring, a four-carat diamond designed by Neil Lane.

Trawick — Brit's former agent — popped the question after working with famed jeweler Lane on the design, according to People.com. The site also reported that Trawick wanted a crown-like band. In addition to the mega-sparkler at the center of the tiara-style setting, the hubby-to-be also had 90 small round diamonds added around the band. Spears debuted the ring during a trip to Las Vegas over the weekend to celebrate her fiancé's birthday.

"Jason is a romantic and when I asked him to tell me about Britney and what the ring would represent to them so I could find inspiration, his response was always the same — she is his princess!" Lane told the website. "Jason didn't want an over-the-top ring with a giant stone."

Minya Oh, the author of "Bling Bling: Hip Hop's Crown Jewels," told MTV News she was pleasantly surprised by how understated the rock is. "The ring is so damn classy! It's [four] carats, which by Hollywood standards these days is practically microscopic," Oh said. "The setting is a tiny crown but both that and the thin diamond-studded band are done so delicately, from afar the focus is still on that bright white center stone. Nothing about the ring overwhelms her hand, and nothing screams, 'Please believe my relationship is real!' " She added, "This is the kind of ring a pop icon has when they're ready for something that means more than just the ring."

This is hardly Spears' first engagement ring, however. When her ex Kevin Federline popped the question back in 2004, the former back-up dancer gave the pop princess a five-carat diamond ring.

All this talk about rocks got us thinking about some other celebrity proposals, so we decided to spotlight a few memorable engagement rings.

Kim Kardashian & Kris Humphries

When it comes to size, Spears' ring from Trawick is small compared to Kim Kardashian's monster-size rock. When Kris Humphries popped the question earlier this year, he gave her a 20.5-carat Lorraine Schwartz diamond. Of course, the size of the ring didn't guarantee lasting marital bliss: the couple split after 72 days of marriage.

Beyoncé & Jay-Z

Like Humpdash, Jay-Z, who is expecting his first child with wife Beyoncé, also went the Lorraine Schwartz route. He gave his pop-star lady love an 18-carat ring back in 2007. The couple kept their wedding ceremony under wraps.

Kristin Cavallari & Jay Cutler

While it has been a bumpy engagement for former "Hills" star Kristin Cavallari and her football player fiancé Jay Cutler, the couple announced they were engaged again last month. Cutler opted to use the same 5.2-carat ring he'd given the MTV reality star back in April when he first decided to put a ring on it.

Hilary Duff & Mike Comrie

Before Mike Comrie asked mama-to-be Hilary Duff to be his blushing bride last year, he reportedly spent $1 million for the sparkler, said to be about 12 to 13 carats.

Katy Perry & Russell Brand

Russell Brand also gifted Katy Perry with a ring of about 12 to 13 carats when he proposed last year to MTV's 2011 Artist of the Year. The comedian asked the pop star to marry him while the two were in India. The couple would later re-create that magic when they also married in the country in October 2010.

Share your well-wishes for Britney and Jason in the comments!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1676248/britney-spears-engagement-ring.jhtml "> http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1676248/britney-spears-engagement-ring.jhtml

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Hilary Duff?s Christmas Present Baby Bump (Photo)

A pregnant Hilary Duff is in the Holiday spirit and she shared that with her fans via Twitter earlier today. Oh yes, just wait until you see what she did with her baby bump. It is so freaking adorable, you have to see it. When I woke up this morning I checked Twitter and was delighted to see the above photo of Duff and her very festive baby bump. As you can see the actress had a present painted on her ever growing baby bump with the words Happy Holidays written underneath it. I have to say it made for quite the fun and unique way to spread holiday cheer, especially with Hilary dressed in Santa hat and flashing the peace sign. Hilary tweeted the photo to her fans with the message ?Happy holidays from the three of us!? She also included this message to her big sister Haylie. ?What would I do without you and your artistic ways? Guess that means Haylie had something to do with the creative baby bump huh. Knowing it was a sister project kind of makes the nice holiday message even more meaningful if you ask me. What can I say it is Christmas [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RightCelebrity/~3/icle2yoXRXA/

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Courtney Love Won?t Be Evicted Until After Christmas

Rocker Courtney Love has avoided eviction from her New York property over Christmas – the singer’s case has been pushed back until January. The Hole frontwoman moved into the Manhattan townhouse earlier this year but the building’s owner Donna Lyon has launched a legal battle against the star, claiming she owes more than $50,000 in [...]

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Lil Wayne, T.I., Wiz Khalifa To Get 'Sleazy' With Ke$ha

Tip confirms second remix in the works for track, which previously featured a remix verse from Andre 3000.
By Jocelyn Vena


Ke$ha
Photo: MTV News

Ke$ha's already gotten "Sleazy" with Andre 3000. Now, a few more rappers want to get dirty with the glittery pop singer.

XXLmag.com reports that T.I. plans to jump on the track, and Lil Wayne and Wiz Khalifa will also be joining Andre and Tip on a new version of "Sleazy."

Weezy should be a welcome addition to Ke$ha's dance tune, as it sounds somewhat like Wayne's single "A Milli." And while not much else is known about the remix, T.I. promised that he's going to go big with his verse.

"I haven't heard anybody but mine. ... I'm gonna put my money on mine," the newly freed rapper, who ended an 11-month prison sentence in September, told the website.

The Andre 3000 remix dropped earlier this year and appears on K-Dollar Sign's album Cannibal. The guys will have a lot of swagger to compete with because when Andre appeared on the first remix, he had this to say: "We start out so cute in our baby pictures/ That mama shot for our daddy so that he wouldn't forget you/ He forgot anyway, but hey, one day he'll remember/ If not, he's human, I'm human, you human, we'll forgive him/ I call her Keisha, she like it because it's 'hood to her/ She call me Andre 6000 because I'm good to her."

Tip told XXLmag.com that his appearance on the Ke$ha song is just one of many remixes he's amped about. He has also worked on remixes for Meek Mill and Rick Ross's "Ima Boss," as well as Jay-Z and Kanye West's Watch the Throne song "N---as in Paris."

"I'm looking for some more records to jump on," he said. "That's what I'm doin' right now. I'm commandeering hit records right now. I'm hijacking hit records. If you got a hit, I'm on it."

Are you looking forward to the new "Sleazy" remix? Tell us in the comments!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1672529/lil-wayne-kesha-ti-wiz-khalifa-remix... "> http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1672529/lil-wayne-kesha-ti-wiz-khalifa-remix...

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Complete list of winner from the 2011 American Country Awards

2011 American Country Awards

The 2011 American Country Awards honored the genre's top artists in Las Vegas, Nevada on Monday night (December 5). Held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, the ceremony was co-hosted by Kristin Chenoweth and Trace Adkins while Jason Aldean emerged as the big winner by garnering six trophies in categories including Artist of the Year and Album of the Year. Other success stories at this year's ACAs included Carrie Underwood and Thompson Square with three wins, along with Brad Paisley as Male Artist of the Year and Artist of the Decade honoree Toby Keith. Topping the showcase off were rockin' performances by Blake Shelton, Pistol Annies, Thompson Square, Eli Young Band and The Band Perry. With pictures from the event below, the complete list of winner from the 2011 American Country Awards is as follows: Artist of the Year WINNER: Jason Aldean Kenny Chesney Lady Antebellum Taylor Swift Zac Brown Band Artist of the Year: Male Jason Aldean Luke Bryan Kenny Chesney WINNER: Brad Paisley Blake Shelton Artist of the Year: Female Sara Evans Alison Krauss Miranda Lambert Taylor Swift WINNER: Carrie Underwood Artist of the Year: Breakthrough Artist Eric Church Eli Young Band Justin Moore Jake Owen WINNER: Chris Young Artist of the Year: New Artist The Band Perry WINNER: Scotty McCreery Jerrod Niemann Pistol Annies Thompson Square Album of the Year WINNER: Jason Aldean, My Kinda Party Kenny Chesney, Hemingway's Whiskey Brad Paisley, This Is Country Music Taylor Swift, Speak Now Keith Urban, Get Closer Zac Brown Band, You Get What You Give Single of the Year Billy Currington, "Let Me Down Easy" Tim McGraw, "Felt Good on My Lips" Thompson Square, "Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not" WINNER: Chris Young, "Voices" Zac Brown Band with Alan Jackson, "As She's Walking Away" Single of the Year: Male WINNER: Jason Aldean, "My Kinda Party" Luke Bryan, "Someone Else Calling You Baby" Billy Currington, "Let Me Down Easy" Tim McGraw, "Felt Good on My Lips" Chris Young, "Voices" Single of the Year: Female Sara Evans, "A Little Bit Stronger" Miranda Lambert, "Heart Like Mine" Reba, "Turn On The Radio" Taylor Swift, "Mean" WINNER: Carrie Underwood, "Mama's Song" Single of the Year: Duo or Group The Band Perry, "You Lie" Rascal Flatts, "Why Wait" Sugarland, "Stuck Like Glue" WINNER: Thompson Square, "Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not" Zac Brown Band, "Colder Weather" Single of the Year: New Artist The Band Perry, "You Lie" Craig Campbell, "Family Man" The JaneDear Girls, "Wildflower" Jerrod Niemann, "What Do You Want" WINNER: Thompson Square, "Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not" Single of the Year: Vocal Collaboration WINNER: Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson, "Don't You Wanna Stay" Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter, "You and Tequila" Brad Paisley with Alabama, "Old Alabama" Zac Brown Band with Jimmy Buffet, "Knee Deep" Zac Brown Band with Alan Jackson, "As She's Walking Away" Touring Headline Act of the Year WINNER: Jason Aldean Kenny Chesney Toby Keith Tim McGraw Brad Paisley Rascal Flatts George Strait Taylor Swift Carrie Underwood Keith Urban Music Video of the Year Sara Evans, "A Little Bit Stronger" Jerrod Niemann, "What Do You Want" WINNER: Blake Shelton, "Who Are You When I'm Not Looking" Thompson Square, "Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not" Josh Turner, "I Wouldn't Be a Man" Music Video: Male Jason Aldean, "My Kinda Party" Jerrod Niemann, "What Do You Want" WINNER: Blake Shelton, "Who Are You When I'm Not Looking" Josh Turner, "I Wouldn't Be a Man" Keith Urban, "Put You In a Song" Music Video: Female Sara Evans, "A Little Bit Stronger" Reba, "Turn on the Radio" Ashton Shepherd, "Look It Up" Taylor Swift, "Back to December" WINNER: Carrie Underwood, "Mama's Song" Music Video: Duo, Group or Collaboration WINNER: Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson, "Don't You Wanna Stay" The Band Perry, "You Lie" Lady Antebellum, "Hello World" Thompson Square, "Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not" Zac Brown Band with Alan Jackson, "As She's Walking Away" Music Video: New Artist The Band Perry, "You Lie" Craig Campbell, "Family Man" Brett Eldredge, "Raymond" Jerrod Niemann, "What Do You Want" WINNER: Thompson Square, "Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not" Artist of the Decade WINNER: Toby Keith [gallery=799]

Source: http://www.celebritygossiphollywood.com/celebrities/complete-list-of-winner-from-the-2011-american-country-awards/

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Nicola Roberts Covers InStyle UK February 2012

She rose to fame thanks to her work with Girls Aloud, and Nicola Roberts takes over cover duties for the February 2-12 issue of InStyle UK.

The British beauty showed off her good looks in a Robert Wyatt shot spread while talking with the magazine about her "fairy tale life" along with former bandmates Cheryl Cole and Kimberly Wyatt

Highlights from Nicola's interview are as follows. For more, be sure to check out InStyle UK!

On her life summed up:
"It's like a cross between reality and fairy tale. My life's a fairy tale, but my head is very firmly in reality."

On reading psychology books and learning coping mechanisms:
"I think it's important, especially today, when judgment seems to be spiraling out of control. "

On how her bandmate Kimberly Walsh is doing since leaving rehab:
"It's not my place to say. I'd hate to be that person who says something to feed someone else's entertainment value."

On Cheryl Cole:
"Out of all the girl, Cheryl and I have the same mentalities. We're just very similar people, who had similar upbringings, so we could - and still can - relate to each other. Put it this way, she didn't know what a sat nav was back in the day, either."

Source: http://celebrity-gossip.net/nicola-roberts/nicola-roberts-covers-instyle-uk-february-2012-571120

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