311 - Uplifter

311 set to release new album Uplifter, on 2nd June 2009.
There will be two versions of Uplifter made available. There will be a CD version, featuring the 11 new songs. And there will be a Deluxe Edition version, which will be the CD plus a special 80 minute DVD documentary titled “The Road to 3-11 Day 2008”, directed by Wayne Price. The DVD includes a behind the scenes look at the band & their fans during the week leading up to 3-11 Day, as well as backstage footage, interviews, fan footage and 8 live performances from the 3-11 Day 2008 concert at the New Orleans Arena! You don’t want to miss this! The Deluxe package will be a limited edition offering, so keep an eye out for pre-sale details soon.

311's new radio single, Hey You, is now playing on radio stations across the US. The single will be available for sale from all download providers next Tuesday 4/14. 311 will shoot a video for Hey You in the next few days. Until then, here is a video-free version.



Words from Nick Hexum:
Greetings friends. ’09 is off to an amazing start. There is an exciting vibe around the studio now that we have completed recording our new album, Uplifter. It’s a similar feeling among the band members to the one we had after recording Music and the Blue album. People ask me which of our previous albums I could compare our new record to. That’s hard to do, but I can definitely say that we feel like we have kicked ass and really made the very best album that we are capable of at this time. We really took the time to finish this album and explore every idea to the very end. Working without a strict deadline really paid off. Our partnership with Bob Rock has been fantastic. I’ve never enjoyed working with any producer so much. He’s brilliant. His ideas and knowledge are staggering. He’s a walking encyclopedia. He’s a good listener. His work with so many other bands has taught him how to cooperate well and it’s been a good influence on us. I can’t say enough good things about him. What does the album sound like? The title really fits the uplifting nature of the new music. To me, the music is positive and fun. It reflects the mind state we were in when we made it. We were in a good place. There are themes of personal struggle in the songs, but as always with 311, there is a resolution. No wallowing in self-pity for us. There are songs about relationships. Straight from the heart. There is a trio of songs on the album that are about what it’s like to be in this band. There’s a balls-to-the-wall burner about the fun of touring. It’s a thank you to the fans that is destined to be an anthem. There’s a heavy song about the magic of creativity. One song is an ode to music itself. Music is our constant companion and personally, I’d be fucked without it. I’m so excited for you all to hear the album and to rock the songs live this spring & summer! Much love. - Nick

311's American tour schedule of 50 shows released. Spring and Summer Tours. Tickets are now on sale for 42 shows. All info at 311.com. Summer Tour is 311, Ziggy Marley, The Expendables.

Transformers 2

After returning to Cybertron, Starscream assumes command of the Decepticons, and has decided to return to Earth with force. The Autobots believing that peace was possible finds out that Megatron's dead body has been stolen from the US Military by Skorpinox and revives him using his own spark. Now Megatron is back seeking revenge and with Starscream and more Decepticon reinforcements on the way, the Autobots with reinforcements of their own, may have more to deal with more than meets the eye.
The battle for Earth has ended but the battle for the universe has just begun.

Main Cast
Megan Fox • Mikaela Banes
Shia LaBeouf • Sam Witwicky
Josh Duhamel • Captain Lennox
Tyrese Gibson • USAF Tech Sergeant Epps
John Turturro • Agent Simmons
Hugo Weaving • Megatron (voice)
Frank Welker • Soundwave (voice) (rumored)
Peter Cullen • Optimus Prime (voice)
Darius McCrary • Jazz (voice)
Robert Foxworth • Ratchet (voice)
Charles Adler • Starscream (voice)

Transformers returns. They continue to adapt the storyline and reinvent the classic characters. The first one was focused on the human character, but I'm sure everyone was expecting the Autobots to be the main focus of the movie. From the trailer it looks like this one will focus on the Decpticons, but I'm sure they find some way to make it all about the human Sam. Either way, it will be worth watching.

Monika Puchalski

One of the Bundesliga’s better known supporting ladies.

Polish-born striker Lukas Podolski is hugely popular in Germany, but he hasn’t been having such a great time at Bayern Munich. He has already agreed to move back to FC Köln at the end of the season, which means Colgne will also be welcoming back his long-term girlfriend, Monika Puchalski.

Unlike many of her shameless counterparts, Monika does not live her life in the limelight. She spends her time looking after their child Louis, who will be one this April.

Pearl Jam - Ten [reissue]

The rerelease of the debut album is the part of a planned rerelease of the rest of its albums, leading up to its 20th anniversary in 2011. Ten is a classic of the so called "grunge" era, its super-sized anthems and introspective pieces powered by Eddie Vedder, a Jim Morrision for the plaid shirt brigade. It's no surprise they've held up so well after all these years.

Disc two tacks on six more tracks that represent the real gold for diehards who have traded sludgy bootlegs of the band's early jams for years. But it's the extra features, spread over four different editions that truly impress. The reissue also includes a DVD of Pearl Jam's 1992 performance on "MTV Unplugged". Ten is just Ten, and I guess for all their reservations, the band have come to accept that: there’s no mystery to the new cover, just Pearl Jam in plain view, big shorts and all.

Scope Node Laser Mouse

This is the Scope Node, a mouse that the maker Elecom claims is as accurate as a pen. “Like Holding a Pen" says the accompanying publicity, which to us this seems to be up there with “Like you just stepped out of a salon" when it comes to product claims.

The USB mouse is indeed quite accurate, going on its respectable 1,600 dpi resolution, but here’s the real gimmick: According to Elecom, the laser-eye which does the mousing is placed just where a pen tip would be - if you were holding a pen.

Clear nonsense. But what about those looks? The gray metallic carapace looks like it’s about to transform into a giant robot and battle the Decepticons. Even the name, Scope Node, sounds somehow interstellar. You can have this magnificent piece of nonsense for around ¥6,000, or $62 US.

Lauren Pope

Glamour model Lauren Pope has been displaying her wares on the pages of Playboy, Zoo and FHM for many years, but is best known for being the “girlfriend” of Prince Harry in 2004.

Since then, the Page Three girl has enjoyed a relationship with (pre-Abbey Clancy) Peter Crouch, and is said to be stepping out with pint size footballer Shaun Wright Phillips at the moment.

Lauren isn’t just the owner of magnificent boobs - she is also a talented DJ and an entrepreneur. Her company Hair Rehab sells hair extensions, and has been championed by fellow WAGs Kate Lawler and Nicola McLean.

Terminator: Salvation

Set in post-apocalyptic 2018, John Connor is the man fated to lead the human resistance against Skynet and its army of Terminators. But the future Connor was raised to believe in is altered in part by the appearance of Marcus Wright, a stranger whose last memory is of being on death row. Connor must decide whether Marcus has been sent from the future, or rescued from the past. As Skynet prepares its final onslaught, Connor and Marcus both embark on an odyssey that takes them into the heart of Skynet’s operations, where they uncover the terrible secret behind the possible annihilation of mankind.

Main Cast
Christian Bale • John Connor
Sam Worthington • Marcus Wright
Anton Yelchin • Kyle Reese
Moon Bloodgood • Blair Williams
Bryce Dallas Howard • Kate Connor
Common • Barnes
Jane Alexander • Virginia
Helena Bonham Carter • Serena
Jadagrace • Star
Roland Kickinger • T-800
Brian Steele • T-600




Another twist to the Terminator series so that the franchise will never die. Another movie I will definitely go to the cinema for. I'll take you with me if you sponsor the drugs.
Will post the full online streaming version when it's available.

Star Trek

Set before "The Original Series" Kirk and Spock are newly graduated Cadets fresh from Starfleet Academy and are sent on their first space mission.

Main Cast
Chris Pine • James T. Kirk
Jennifer Morrison • Winona Kirk
Simon Pegg • Scotty
Winona Ryder • Amanda Grayson
Eric Bana • Nero
Zoe Saldana • Nyota Uhura
Zachary Quinto • Spock
Leonard Nimoy • Old Spock
Karl Urban • Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
John Cho • Hikaru Sulu
Rachel Nichols • Orion
Anton Yelchin • Pavel Chekov
Diora Baird • Orion slave girl
Tyler Perry • Starfleet Academy President

Release Date: 8 May 2009 (USA)



Unlike the upcoming X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie, I haven't managed to find the full Star Trek movie available streaming online (yet). I'm glad though, because based on that trailer, I'll definitely have to see this one in theater.

News
Even though the reboot has yet to hit theaters, that hasn't stopped Paramount from preparing for its sequel. The studio has picked up Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman and Damon Lindelof to scribble out part deux for what Paramount is hoping is a profitable venture when Star Trek opens in Sydney for its world premiere.

Director J.J. Abrams is on contract to produce but no word if the Cloverfield director will helm.

The screenplay's first draft is expected to be finished by the end of the year with a possible summer 2011 release.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Wolverine lives a mutant life, seeks revenge against Victor Creed (who will later become Sabretooth) for the death of his girlfriend, and ultimately ends up going through the mutant Weapon X program.

Main Cast
Hugh Jackman • Logan / Wolverine
Ryan Reynolds • Wade Wilson / Deadpool
Liev Schreiber • Victor Creed / Sabretooth
Dominic Monaghan • Barnell Bohusk / Beak
Lynn Collins • Silver Fox
Danny Huston • William Stryker
Daniel Henney • David North / Agent Zero
Taylor Kitsch • Remy LeBeau / Gambit
Kevin Durand • Frederick J. Dukes / The Blob

Release Date: 1 May 2009 (USA)



This movie has been leaked and is available for FREE streaming online. FOX news watched a leaked version, reviewed it, and even mentioned that the version they saw was online. This is a rookie mistake by Fox, who were under investigation by the FBI, after which they blamed their error on the freelance journalist who reviewed it.

After hearing this, I of course checked to see if it was available online. I am not versed in copyright law, but you can watch this entire movie here. Watching that link is probably illegal. Then again, you're probably a Trini.

*Update
Below is a direct link to the Full X-Men Origins: Wolverine. It is the main plot; beginning to end, some special effects were not completed and there are a couple scenes where the wires are showing. Other than that it is TV quality and watchable. I have heard that the final version for cinemas will include 10 minutes of extra footage.

Below is an embed of a link to the leaked movie. I do not own or host it's contents.