MTV News

Lionsgate hopes the trailer will draw even more fans to 'Hunger Games,' the biggest investment in the company's history.
By John Mitchell

Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson in "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1"
Photo: Summit Entertainment

Fans of YA-book-to-blockbuster-film adaptations rejoice; you're in for a treat! Lionsgate Entertainment has announced that the trailer for the fifth and final film in the "Twilight Saga," "Breaking Dawn - Part 2," will debut exclusively before "The Hunger Games" when it hits theaters on March 23.

The synergistic trailer release marks Lionsgate's first big move to court the rabid fanbase that's turned the "Twilight Saga" into a $2.5 billion-grossing worldwide box-office phenomenon.

" 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2' trailer will debut exclusively on every 'Hunger Games' print on its opening night for what will be Lionsgate's largest release ever," Lionsgate chief executive Jon Feltheimer said (via the Los Angeles Times) in a conference call Friday (February 10).

Lionsgate acquired Summit Entertainment, the production company for "Twilight," in January. The hope appears to be that excitement over the "Breaking Dawn - Part 2" trailer will draw even more people in to see the already much-anticipated "Hunger Games," which, with its $100 million production budget and three planned sequels, is the biggest investment in Lionsgate's history.

Fans of Suzanne Collins' bestselling YA trilogy are counting the days until the release of the first Jennifer Lawrence-starring film, though its stars are trying to avoid all the pre-release buzz. "It was crazy. It had so much buildup for something I've done so many times before," Josh Hutcherson recently told MTV News. "Every other time it's been, 'Oh, another movie.' This time, it had so much going on before the production even started."

"Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2" hits theaters on November 16.

Will you be catching the "Breaking Dawn" trailer at the "Hunger Games" premiere? Let us know in the comments!

Check out everything we've got on "Breaking Dawn - Part 2."

For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

Don't miss the premiere of Taylor Swift's "Safe & Sound" video during "MTV First: Taylor Swift" at 7:54 p.m. ET on MTV, followed by an exclusive chat with Swift about her "Hunger Games" clip on MTV.com.

• MTV Rough Cut: 'Hunger Games' Director Gary Ross
• The 'Hunger Games' Cast Answer Your Burning Twitter Questions

• The Hunger Games

Get a sneak peek at the 'Hunger Games' soundtrack video before it premieres Monday at 7:54 p.m. ET on MTV.
By Jocelyn Vena

Taylor Swift in her "Safe & Sound" video
Photo: Big Machine

On Monday, Taylor Swift will debut the video for "Safe & Sound," her Civil Wars-assisted single from the "Hunger Games" soundtrack, during "MTV First: Taylor Swift" at 7:54 p.m. ET on MTV, followed by an exclusive chat with Swift herself on MTV.com. But you don't have to wait until Monday to catch a sneak peek of the emotional video.

In a mini-tease, Swift is wearing a long, white dress. Her hair and makeup are not done — it's a far cry from the red-carpet-ready Taylor fans are used to seeing. She sings the moody track while she walks through the woods — an obvious connection to the "Hunger Games" film and book that inspired the track.

After Monday's video premiere — which will also air live on MTV's channels in Canada, Europe, Latin America, Australia, Asia and Africa — the Grammy-nominated singer will sit down with MTV News' Sway Calloway for a 30-minute interview on MTV.com. Fans of the superstar can get in on the action by submitting questions via Twitter @MTVNews with the hashtags #AskTaylor or #MTVFirst.

CMT will air "Safe & Sound" at 8 p.m. ET, the same time the music video will debut exclusively online at MTV.com, CMT.com, VH1.com and MTV's international sites. On Tuesday morning, VH1's "Big Morning Buzz Live" will feature the video at 10 a.m. ET/PT.

The "Hunger Games" soundtrack, which also features Arcade Fire and the Decemberists, drops March 20; the movie hits theaters days later, on March 23.

And for those non-Swifties wondering why Taylor chose Monday to drop the video, it's the 13th and that happens to be the star's lucky number.

Don't miss the premiere of Taylor Swift's "Safe & Sound" video during "MTV First: Taylor Swift" on Monday at 7:54 p.m. ET on MTV, followed by an exclusive chat with Swift about her "Hunger Games" clip on MTV.com.

• Taylor Swift

Castmate Deena tells MTV News she's 'annoyed' with Sitch but he's 'part of the family regardless.'
By Christina Garibaldi

The Situation on "Jersey Shore"
Photo: MTV

We are more than halfway through season five of "Jersey Shore," and it seems like things are just heating up on the boardwalk.

On Thursday night's episode, the housemates found themselves dealing with stalker problems, relationship problems and, of course, meatball problems. Yet it seems like their biggest dilemma is lurking right inside their house, and he goes by the name of Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino.

"I think he just kind of likes to stir up problems," Deena told MTV News Thursday at a "Jersey Shore" viewing party.

Sitch has been on his best behavior over the course of the past few episodes, but behind the facade, it seems like the Situation is ready to cause some serious drama.

"He was being really nice to me, and then some things I was like, 'Really?' " Deena said of the Situation's behavior. "But that's Mike, he's like part of the family regardless."

In the latest episode, the Situation is looking to cause more problems for Snooki and her boyfriend Jionni, but in the process finds out from his sidekick, the Unit, that his brother, Frank, has begun hooking up with Deena's sister, Joanie. Pretending to be excited about the potential couple, the Situation decides to stir up trouble, telling Deena's sister that his brother is much more interested in her than he actually is.

"That I was annoyed with because, like, I don't talk bad about his family," Deena said. "And I thought he was genuinely being nice to me about my sister, but clearly he wasn't."

What do you think of the Situation's behavior? Let us know in the comments!

Don't miss "Jersey Shore" every Thursday at 10 p.m. ET on MTV. For continuing "Shore" coverage, be sure to check in with MTV's Remote Control blog.

• Jersey Shore (Season 5) | Ep. 6 | Flipbook

While some critics laud Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum's 'genuine chemistry,' others say their characters are underdeveloped.
By Eric Ditzian

Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum in "The Vow"
Photo: Sony Pictures

Based on a highly unscientific poll of friends, family and coworkers, everyone is positive "The Vow" is a Nicholas Sparks movie and remains unconvinced when informed the romance novelist had no involvement in the pre-Valentine's drama.

The folks at Sony, though, likely aren't complaining about any confusion. While "The Vow" hasn't been winning over critics (it's currently at just 32 percent freshness on Rotten Tomatoes), the film is tracking very well. Box-office prognosticators are eyeing a $30 million-plus opening and Fox, which had slated its own date-night flick, "This Means War," for a February 14 opening, ended up shifting back the release to avoid competition.

About those "Vow" critics. They haven't been kind, calling the characters poorly sketched and the film generally a maudlin affair. Other reviews, however, have lauded Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams' performances, as well as the film's tonal similarities to Sparks-adapted fare like "The Notebook." For those critiques and more, read on for a deep dive into "The Vow" reviews.

The Story
"Despite the sweet story — lovely couple, car wreck, brain injury, she forgets him, he loves her anyway — and the beautiful scenery — cool converted warehouse spaces, snowy Chicago streets, Lake Michigan in the moonlight, and of course Tatum and McAdams — this is a movie that leaves you wanting more. To care more, to cry more, to love more. Inspired by a true story, it begins with a date night at the movies for young marrieds Paige (McAdams) and Leo (Tatum). Then an accident on the way home, capped by a trip to the emergency room that feels like a pale version of 'Grey's Anatomy,' changes everything. When Paige wakes up from a medically induced coma, her memory has been wiped clean, and thus starts Leo's bid to help her remember their life and their love, and when she doesn't, he tries to get her to fall for him again." — Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times

The Performances
"The best thing in the film is McAdams, who moves through her post-amnesia scenes with a plausible mix of good humor and wariness. Her character retains our sympathy even when she's making other people's lives difficult, and you can see why Tatum's Leo clings to her for dear life. He's well cast as a burly lug who married far above his station. Despite that 'nobody's home' air of his, he projects an uncomplicated decency, and you feel for him when McAdams' disapproving parents (the underutilized Sam Neill and Jessica Lange) show him no love." — Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune

The Nicholas Sparks Comparison
"You root for McAdams and Tatum because they show some genuine chemistry together; you sense that these two are better with each other than apart. The screenplay, though, pulls things into gooey Nicholas Sparks territory (familiar turf for McAdams, who starred in the film of Sparks' novel, 'The Notebook'). ... All of these people seem like lazy sketches rather than developed characters; it's tempting to wonder how moving 'The Vow' might have been if they'd been allowed to breathe and live." — Moira Macdonald, The Seattle Times

The Valentine's Day Reality
"Arriving for Valentine's Day weekend, 'The Vow' is a cinematic box of candy wrapped in bright red cellophane. Like any box of chocolates, you have to bite a lot of bad centers to get to the few good ones. ... Unfortunately, most of the movie focuses on Leo's much less challenging point of view as the hurt and forgotten lover. This includes an absurdly unnecessary narration by Leo filled with gibberish about moments of 'impact.' Eventually the film works its way to what is more intriguing: how disorienting and painful it is for Paige to wake up in a completely different personality and world." — Louis B. Parks,

The Bottom Line
" 'The Vow' is the rare chick flick that's about brain trauma in addition to being a cause of it. It's what you might get if the eminent neurologist-author Oliver Sacks tried his hand at a True Romance comic, and, as such, it's quite watchable date-night cheese — the kind of movie you can simultaneously snort at and enjoy." — Ty Burr, Boston Globe

Are you planning on seeing "The Vow" this weekend? Leave your comment below.

Check out everything we've got on "The Vow."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

Legendary producer Clive Davis agrees, calling this 'the year of Adele.'
By Kelley L. Carter

Adele
Photo: Jon Furniss/ WireImage

No doubt about it, it's been the year of Adele. And when one of music's most respected figures says it, you can't help but agree.

Legendary record producer and music executive Clive Davis sat and talked with R&B singers Brandy and Monica on Thursday, and they were all on the same page when it came to who they wanted to see take home the big prizes at the Grammy Awards on Sunday night.

They're fans of Rihanna, but they'd love British singer Adele to win the Grammy for Album of the Year. Both singers are up for the big prize, along with Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars and the Foo Fighters.

"You know, it's so hard because to me you can't really choose one person when you know about both of their journeys. Rihanna is somebody I love because she's OK with self. That's something that's always been resonated through her and her music," Monica said. "I play 'You Da One' all day. When I think about my husband I play 'You Da One.'

"But Adele's voice is so amazingly beautiful," Monica continued. "And the fact that she embodies the soul that you [talking to mentor Davis] used to tell me in the early '90s not to be afraid of ... He used to say, 'Sing it big, sing it strong.' Looking at her, she does that every time she hits the stage."

Davis added that Adele brings back that old soul, and he appreciates her big voice and style of music.

"All the nominees — it's a worthy thing to get nominated, but this has been the year of Adele," Davis said. "No disrespect to any other nominee. In this era where there is perhaps too much electronica and dance music ... I love it. It's inventive, but it should not be the totality of what is exposed. She has just come back with pure music. Just throwing her head back and singing out with full voice, but songs that resonate as well."

Davis continued, saying, "It's been an incredible impact on music and worthy of being singled out, as I'm sure it will be."

As for Brandy, she's tossing her support behind the singer that her daughter Sy'rai adores. Naturally, it's Adele.

"My daughter is in love with Adele. She listens to her every day," Brandy said. "To see someone with that much passion and soul move a 9-year-old is amazing and it's magical."

Chaos! Profanity! Wardrobe malfunctions! Don't miss Sway and James Montgomery live from the Grammys red carpet this Sunday, February 12, for a full three hours of mayhem, starting at 5 p.m. ET on MTV.com. And the fun doesn't end Sunday: MTV News has you covered until the Grammy hangover wears off!

• A Guide To The Grammys 2012

• 2012 Grammy Awards Pre-Parties

• Adele
• Monica
• Brandy

Pop star also addresses rumors that Britney Spears is on MDNA in interview with Ryan Seacrest.
By Jocelyn Vena

Madonna performs at Super Bowl XLVI
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagic

In the days since M.I.A. hit the Super Bowl stage and threw her middle finger up in the air, Madonna has remained mum on the subject. Until now.

The singer called into Ryan Seacrest's radio show Friday morning and finally shared her sentiments on the rapper's naughty hand gesture and the headlines it made in wake of the show.

Sarcastically calling it "punk rock," Madge said she didn't realize it happened until after she walked off the stage, noting that she couldn't keep track of everything that was happening while the performance was taking place. But, once she did find out, she wasn't amused by her "Give Me All Your Luvin' " collaborator's actions.

"I was really surprised. I didn't know anything about it. I wasn't happy about it. I understand it's punk rock and everything, but to me there was such a feeling of love and good energy and positivity; it seemed negative," she said. "It's such a teenager, irrelevant thing to do. ... There was such a feeling of love and unity there. What was the point? It was just out of place."

She later added that despite the snafu she "was overwhelmed. I started crying. I felt an incredible sense of warmth, love, and support. To see an entire stadium light up like candles it was ... like a religious experience."

Much like Madonna, fellow Super Bowl halftime performer Cee Lo Green had no idea that M.I.A. had given the middle finger during the show. "Honestly, I did not hear anything about it," he continued. "There was no talk about it in the dressing room afterwards and we didn't stay long after the performance because it was honestly a relief we had had it done. So I didn't hear anything until I got up to do the morning show, 'Today.' And television is a very sensitive [thing]."

With that controversy behind her, Madge is looking to the future. She's next set to start work on her world tour and shoot her video for the second MDNA single, "Girls Gone Wild."

As for those rumors that Britney Spears is on the track she said, "No, it's just little, ol' me. She can come on stage and perform with me."

What did you think of M.I.A.'s Super Bowl gesture? Leave your comment below.

• Super Bowl XLVI Performances: Madonna And Kelly Clarkson
• Infamous Middle Fingers

• Madonna
• M.I.A.

'The warning won't necessarily work for everybody,' Epilepsy Action spokeswoman Louise Cousins says.
By Gil Kaufman

Kanye West and jay-Z in the music video for "Paris"
Photo: Roc-A-Fella Records

A year after getting called out for the seizure-inducing potential of his strobe-tastic "All of the Lights" video, the Throne's Kanye West clearly got the message and preemptively put a warning on the "N---as in Paris" clip.

But even with the notice that precedes the live performance collabo with Jay-Z — which uses dizzying, flashbulb-like psychedelic effects similar to the "Lights" video — the same group that called for the previous warning is urging caution.

"Epilepsy Action was not consulted about this video, although we now know that watching it does pose a risk to people with photosensitive epilepsy," said Stacey Rennard, campaigns manager for the U.K. charity in a press release. "We are pleased to see that a warning has been put in place to make people with photosensitive epilepsy aware that the video may be harmful. However, the warning does not go far enough and the video is still potentially dangerous. Many people with photosensitive epilepsy, especially young people, do not know they have it until something triggers their first seizure."

The new warning came because of concerns that those most vulnerable to experience seizures from the video may not be appropriately shielded by the disclaimer. "Photosensitive epilepsy is most prevalent in those aged 7 to 19," Louise Cousins, a spokeswoman for Epilepsy Action, told MTV News. "Everybody has a 'seizure threshold,' but somebody may have a tendency to have seizures but not come into contact with anything that has so far triggered it in them [until they view the video]."

Cousins said the warning is fine for people who know they may suffer from the disorder, but those who are not aware may view the "Paris" clip even after reading the warning because they have never experienced a problem before.

The organization was pleased that the Throne decided to proactively add the caveat — after Epilepsy Action campaigned to have one amended to "Lights" last year — and so far, there have been no reports of any problems.

However, Rennard said that it was "very disappointing that, despite the concerns raised last year about the 'All of the Lights' video, Kanye West has knowingly made another video which could be harmful to some fans watching it. We would like to see the music industry show much more responsibility by not commissioning videos that contain potentially dangerous imagery."

For now, Epilepsy Action is not concerned about any potential problems in England, where such videos are barred from airing on TV unless they are edited into safer versions.

A spokesperson for the Throne could not be reached for comment at press time.

• The Throne's 'Paris': A Closer Look

• Epic Scenes From Jay-Z And Kanye West's 'Paris' Video

• Kanye West
• Jay-Z

'Obviously the circumstances are not ideal,' actress says of quickly stepping into Gloria Steinem role.
By John Mitchell

Sarah Jessica Parker on the set of "Lovelace"
Photo: PacificCoastNews.com

Emmy winner Sarah Jessica Parker is speaking out for the first time about the difficult circumstances surrounding her casting in "Lovelace." She told "Access Hollywood" that replacing Demi Moore as Gloria Steinem in the Linda Lovelace biopic was a "daunting task" because she had so little time to prepare for the role of the feminist icon.

"I obviously conveyed to the filmmakers that I was aware and I was sorry for the reasons that they had to reach out to me," the "Sex and the City" star explained. "Also, of course, the somewhat daunting task of playing somebody with very little time [to prepare] who was obviously such an important person in the women's movement, but also played such a pivotal role in Linda's life."

Principal photography on the film had already begun when Parker was asked to step into the role of Steinem following Moore's hospitalization in late January. Paramedics responded to an emergency call made to 911 from the actress' home in Los Angeles on January 23 after friends reported that Moore was "semiconscious" and "having convulsions of some sort" after smoking an unidentified substance.

"Obviously, the circumstances are not ideal," Parker said.

The role of Steinem in "Lovelace" is small but pivotal. The Ms. magazine founder famously published the article "The Real Linda Lovelace" that revealed the abusive relationship the then-porn star, played in the film by Amanda Seyfried, had with husband Chuck Traynor (Peter Sarsgaard). Steinem went on to write the introduction to Lovelace's 1986 memoir.

"Lovelace" producer Heidi Jo Markel told People that Moore was "devastated" to lose the role. The actress earned career-best reviews for her small role in last year's Oscar-nominated "Margin Call" and was keen to sink her teeth into the dramatic part.

"It was a shock and a concern for all of us," Markel told the magazine. "We got a call from [Moore's representative] on Tuesday morning [saying], 'There's been a personal crisis and we need to let you know that.' And we were clueless. We had no idea what it entailed. We just knew she was out, that there was probably a health concern, and to move on."

Moving on meant finding a replacement in a hurry. News of Moore's departure was announced on January 25 and photos of Parker in character on the "Lovelace" set surfaced just eight days later.

Check out everything we've got on "Lovelace."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

• Demi Moore Through The Years

Animated 'Hotel Transylvania' set for September release.
By Jocelyn Vena

Selena Gomez
Photo: Frazer Harrison/ Getty Images

It seems that the Disney girls have each other's backs. Miley Cyrus will no longer be able to voice a part in Adam Sandler's animated vampire flick, "Hotel Transylvania," and it seems that Selena Gomez has stepped up to the plate to fill in for her.

A rep for Sandler told E! News that the actress will play the part of Mavis, the vampire daughter of Dracula (Sandler). Dracula, who runs a resort of all the creepy folks in the world, gets worried when his teen daughter falls for a boy. E! reports that "Saturday Night Live" star Andy Samberg, singer and "The Voice" judge Cee Lo Green and Sandler's pal Kevin James also have sunk their teeth into roles in the film, expected to drop in September.

Back in November, an image of Mavis floating around showed the teen vamp with short black hair, sporting a little black dress with black-and-red striped tights. She rocks the look with red high-top sneakers.

Before she voices Mavis, Gomez will be on set for the much-more-mature "Spring Breakers," which follows a group of college girls who rob a restaurant to pay for their spring break. When they land in jail, a drug and arms dealer bails them out, and they quickly become entangled with him. "I'm really, really excited about it," Gomez said about the Harmony Korine-directed film.

"We have to say there's a lot to be excited about. It's a different character than I have ever played before," she added. "It's a different kind of vibe, I think, than people are used to seeing me in. What you're going to see is more raw, I think. It's going to be raw and more about acting."

Gomez will produce and most likely star in the big-screen adaptation of the Jandy Nelson novel "The Sky Is Everywhere." She's also rumored to be attached to a film called "Hot Mess."

As for Cyrus, she's got some big projects set for release this year. She's going to drop her college-set comedy "So Undercover" and the dramedy "LOL," co-starring Demi Moore and Ashley Greene.

Check out everything we've got on "Hotel Transylvania."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

• Selena Gomez: 2011 In Review

• Selena Gomez

First single off Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection will drop February 21.
By John Mitchell

Katy Perry
Photo: Splash News

Readying the release of Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection, Katy Perry has announced that the first single from the re-issue, "Part of Me," will drop February 21.

Confection will include all 12 tracks that originally appeared on Perry's double-platinum Teenage Dream and three new songs, along with versions of "E.T." featuring Kanye West and "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" featuring Missy Elliott, an acoustic version of "The One That Got Away" produced by Jon Brion and a seven-minute megamix of the album's six singles. The album is set for a March 27 release.

"This is the complete story of Teenage Dream," Perry said in a statement. "It was an incredible honor to tie the King of Pop's Billboard Hot 100 record, but I'm moving forward and had a few things left to get off my chest. So this is the complete special edition of my album for my fans."

Tricky Stewart, who produced three tracks on the original Dream, told MTV News last fall that he was headed back into the studio with the pop star to rework some songs they'd recorded during the Dream sessions that didn't make the album because of "contractual obligations." "I can only have so many songs produced by me on the record," he added. "She didn't need to have extra songs."

"Katy and I went into [the studio] just to address some issues with records that we had done in the past that didn't end up going on Teenage Dream," Stewart told MTV News in October. "So we are in the process of just listening and freshening up things and getting ready for something special she has going on."

In its initial release, Teenage Dream tied Michael Jackson's record for the most #1s from a single record, putting five singles — "California Gurls," "Teenage Dream," "Firework," "E.T." and "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" — at the Billboard Hot 100 summit. New singles released from The Complete Confection will not, however, count toward besting Jackson's record.

Are you excited for Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection? Leave your comment below!

• Katy Perry's Super Bowl Appearance

• Katy Perry

Katy Perry, Bon Iver, Bruno Mars and Mumford & Sons are also competing for the prestigious award.
By Gil Kaufman

Adele, Bruno Mars and Katy Perry
Photo: Getty Images

Every year has one: a runaway Grammy nominee who sweeps through the top categories and appears to be the juggernaut to beat. This year is no different. While Kanye West is the top nominee with seven nods, Adele is close behind with six nods, including bids in all of the top categories.

And while we won't know whose name will be called until Sunday night's show, a look at the Record of the Year race is a fine example of why the British songbird might need some help packing her hardware up for the trip back home.

Unless you spent time on another planet this year, and even if you did, chances are you heard Adele's breakthrough hit, "Rolling in the Deep" a dozen or (many) more times. The stirring soul pop gem was the perfect showcase for the singer's powerful, richly textured voice, and its ebb-and-flow dynamic packed a relationship's worth of drama into 3:48. In addition to selling nearly 6 million copies of her album, 21, she also moved nearly 6 million copies of the "Deep" single, earning credit for helping to (slightly) pull the long-moribund U.S. record business out of a decade-long slump.

But she has some formidable opponents in the Record of the Year race, one of the most prestigious awards handed out, which frequently honors the year's most successful or notable songs. That might explain how Best New Artist nominee Bon Iver got into the mix with the ethereal "Holocene." Leader Justin Vernon broke through to the mainstream in 2011 thanks to his own folk-and-AutoTuned compositions, as well as work with West.

If "Rolling in the Deep" was inescapable, then Mumford & Sons' "The Cave" was just a few notches below ubiquitous, but still all over the place. The banjo-picking, foot-stomping ditty from the English folk revivalists helped cement their status as a force to be reckoned with, while serving as a nice follow-up to their salty breakthrough, "Little Lion Man." It also helped keep their multi-platinum debut, Sigh No More, a fixture on the Billboard 200 and iTunes charts throughout the year.

Somewhere in between were two huge hits for Katy Perry and Bruno Mars that put a stranglehold on pop radio for much of the spring and summer. Perry's inspiring "Firework" helped the singer reach elite company on the Billboard charts on her way to landing six top-five hits from a single album, not to mention empowering her young fans to embrace their unique identities.

Any way you slice it, it was also a huge year for Mars, who also garnered six Grammy noms for his Doo-Wops & Hooligans debut as well as his producing/songwriting work on songs by other artists. But it was the sweat and toil he put into the endless love tune "Grenade" that made all that hard work pay off.

"[We] worked extremely hard on 'Grenade.' That was the hardest song on the whole album to finish because we knew we had something, and to get all that emotion out," Mars told MTV News in December. "I think I can speak for all of us when I say that we're really happy that that song is being recognized because that's like our trophy song."

Chaos! Profanity! Wardrobe malfunctions! Don't miss Sway and James Montgomery live from the Grammys red carpet this Sunday, February 12, for a full three hours of mayhem, starting at 5 p.m. ET on MTV.com. And the fun doesn't end Sunday: MTV News has you covered until the Grammy hangover wears off!

• A Guide To The Grammys 2012
• Adele's 'Magical' Road To Success

• 2012 Grammy Performers
• MTV Act | 2012 Grammy Nominees Who Give Back

Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland say the new mom looks 'amazing' and that Blue Ivy is 'beautiful.'
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Kelly Marino

Beyonce at the 40/40 Club in New York City
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ Getty Images

Earlier this week, new mom Beyoncé stepped out to debut her post-baby body for the first time. Decked out one night in a body-hugging red number and another in a glittering black cocktail dress, B was out in full force to support her hubby Jay-Z when he took the stage for a two-night engagement at New York's famed Carnegie Hall.

B certainly left her fans speechless with her ability to bounce back to hotness just a month after giving birth to baby Blue Ivy, and her former Destiny's Child pals were equally floored. Michelle Williams dished to MTV News, "Man, "She looks fantastic, amazing, amazing, amazing. I wasn't surprised because even before she was pregnant she had a six pack, she was very toned. So, obviously it just went back very quickly."

Fellow DC gal pal Kelly Rowland also can't handle how Beyoncé is bringing sexy back one hot dress at a time. "She looks fantastic. She looks fantastic. I told her she looks so hot!" Rowland exclaimed. "She looks so hot — just even sexier. Love her!"

And Williams noted that it's not just Beyoncé who is doing well these days, but so is 1-month-old Blue. "Absolutely! Absolutely [I've seen everyone]!" she said. "Everybody's doing fantastic, amazing."

Williams' sentiments about Blue Ivy mirror those of comments Rowland previously made about J and B's glory. "She's absolutely beautiful!" Rowland said back in January. "And I say that with such a huge grin! I'm so excited.

"We all just stared at her," she added about meeting the baby for the first time. "I just stared at her. She is so beautiful."

Are you excited to see pictures of Blue Ivy? Leave your comments below!

• All About Beyonce And Jay-Z's New Arrival

• Jay-Z Performs At Carnegie Hall

• Beyoncé

Sharing stage with Beach Boys and Maroon 5 for Sunday's Grammys 'icing on the cake' in breakthrough year, frontman tells MTV News.
By James Montgomery

Mark Foster of Foster The People
Photo: WireImage

LOS ANGELES — Foster the People don't want to reveal too much about their performance at Sunday's 54th Grammy Awards, where they'll share the stage with the surviving members of the Beach Boys (together for the first time in more than 20 years) and Maroon 5. But they will tell you what song they won't be playing: their signature hit, "Pumped Up Kicks."

"I think my head would explode if [the Beach Boys] were playing 'Pumped Up Kicks' with us," frontman Mark Foster told MTV News during Grammy rehearsals Thursday. "I would probably have to say 'No, no, no. That's unacceptable.' No, we're going to be playing with them."

Both FTP and Maroon 5 will honor the reunited Boys — Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston and early member David Marks — by singing a medley of their classics, before teaming up with the surf (and psych) legends for a triumphant final take on the seminal "Good Vibrations." And though all three bands have been rehearsing the performance for two days now, Foster is still having a difficult time believing it's actually happening.

"We walked into the rehearsal room and met all of the Beach Boys for the first time yesterday, and it was a trip for all of us," he said. "We grew up listening to their music since we were little kids — I probably wouldn't be in music today if it wasn't for them. So, to see them all in the same room together, and then playing with them, it's wild. It's a dream come true."

So much so that, in a year that saw FTP not only score a certified smash with "Kicks," but tour the world and earn a pair of Grammy nominations, Sunday's performance unquestionably will be the highlight of their young career.

"I think out of everything we've done so far, this is the top for us. This is the icing on the cake," Foster explained. "We were talking about it yesterday: Exactly a year ago, we were playing in front of 250 people in L.A., and so much has changed since then. It's all kind of a blur looking back on it, but we were reflecting on it yesterday ... our album came out five, six months ago, and now we're playing with the Beach Boys at the Grammys. Things have changed pretty quickly."

So, win or lose on Grammy night (and, for the record, Foster seems to think his band is going to get creamed in both the Best Alternative Music Album and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance categories), Foster the People are going to be just fine. After all, they're playing with the freaking Beach Boys. And it doesn't get much better than that.

"I think people that are tuning in are going to see a piece of history. This is the first time the Beach Boys have played together in over 20 years," Foster said. "They're one of the best bands of all time. Brian Wilson has left such a mark on musical history, to be able to see him up there with the other guys doing what they do, it's amazing."

Chaos! Profanity! Wardrobe malfunctions! Don't miss Sway and James Montgomery live from the Grammys red carpet this Sunday, February 12, for a full three hours of mayhem, starting at 5 p.m. ET on MTV.com. And the fun doesn't end Sunday: MTV News has you covered until the Grammy hangover wears off!

• A Guide To The Grammys 2012

• 2012 Grammy Awards Pre-Parties

• Foster the People

Critics point out similarities to the 'Bourne' series and even Denzel Washington's previous work.
By Kevin P. Sullivan

Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds in "Safe House"
Photo: Universal Pictures

Denzel Washington returns as a cynical old pro who must work with a novice in order to survive. This time it's called "Safe House," and Washington plays a rogue CIA operative under the protection of a rookie, played by Ryan Reynolds.

"Safe House" has earned middling reviews, many of which take note of the film's similarities to both the "Bourne" franchise and Washington's previous work with director Tony Scott.

Here is our roundup of reviews for "Safe House":

The Story
"Washington plays the notorious Tobin Frost, a brilliant former CIA operative who's turned traitor, selling secrets to any nation or enemy cell willing to buy them. After years on the run, he turns himself in at the American embassy in Cape Town, South Africa. He's then taken to the local agency safe house where Reynolds, as the ambitious Matt Weston, is its bored, rookie minder. Matt longs to prove himself and see some real action in the field, and he gets it sooner than he expects when the house comes under a vicious, heavily armed attack and he and Tobin must go on the run together." — Christy Lemire, The Associated Press

The Stars
"Mr. Washington, it almost goes without saying, is its anchor; when he's on screen everything seems to matter more, so much so that a prequel seems inevitable. How Frost became the man that he did is one of the mysteries, as is how well Weston and the actor playing him will rise to the occasion. Mr. Reynolds, whose curiously unsettled career is its own puzzle, here rises to meet Mr. Washington's challenge, investing Weston with a slow-building, believable vulnerability." — Manohla Dargis, New York Times

The Action
"The movie, as if on an action time clock, punches in the standard set pieces: bloody fights, clattering shoot-outs, an escape through a packed soccer stadium. Some of this stuff is well-done, and some of it has been done a lot better. Yet 'Safe House', even when it's pummeling you effectively, has very little up its sleeve. Basically, the movie is a fizzless 'Bourne' episode crossed with 'Training Day,' featuring Washington as a good-egg-gone-rotten who, you know, has his reasons. Mostly, he schools Matt, his guard-turned-pursuer, in what it means to lie." — Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

The Director
"Director Espinosa shoots virtually everything in tight but wobbly close-up, and the human and vehicular combat often brakes right at the edge of visual incoherence. Just as often the brakes give out completely. Even at its most frantic and mechanical, the movie relies on Washington to provide a visual anchor, some sociopathic calm amid the storm." — Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune

The Final Word
"Essentially a two-hour chase with a few brief breaks to catch its breath, 'Safe House' is an elemental cat-and-mouse game elaborated to the point of diminishing returns. Terse and understated, this is a spy vs. spy tale designed to minimize talk and maximize action, not at all a bad thing in movies but over-worked to near-exhaustion here." — Todd McCarthy, The Hollywood Reporter

Check out everything we've got on "Safe House."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

• MTV Rough Cut: Safe House

'All this stuff about Maya being a bad mom is completely out of bounds,' Benjamin Bronfman tweets.
By Gil Kaufman

M.I.A.
Photo: Eugene Gologursky/ Getty Images

Hell hath no fury like a baby daddy scorned. Days after tabloid reports alleged that M.I.A. was no longer dating her longtime beau and father of their child,
 Benjamin Bronfman, the heir to the Seagram's fortune took to Twitter to lash out at the allegations that the singer/rapper has been an absentee mother.

Less than 24 hours after M.I.A. made global headlines for flying the middle finger
 and cursing during her bit in Madonna's Super Bowl halftime show, a tabloid report surfaced that she was no longer living with
 Bronfman and that she sometimes goes "six weeks" without seeing their 3-year-old son, Ikhyd Edgar Arular Bronfman.

In a series of tweets on Wednesday and Thursday, Bronfman (referring to the rapper by her given name, Maya) threw cold water on those allegations. "All this stuff about Maya being a bad mom is completely out of bounds," he wrote. "She's a really great mom." He also lashed out at the media for being in such a "state [of] unfounded gossipy nonsense when there are real problems in the world ... media needs to rethink it's code of ethics. To consistently tear down a working mother is just beyond me."

Bronfman then took a minute to praise M.I.A.'s new song and video for the tune "Bad Girls" and to give her props for what he deemed a "great" performance at the Super Bowl. "MIA as a mom, great," he added. Then, in a message to his boo, he wrote, "Can't say it enough -- Don't let them flip the script -- you're a great mom and Ikhyd loves you."

NBC and the NFL apologized to viewers for what they called the "inappropriate gesture that aired during halftime," though M.I.A. has not made any public comment on the incident.

• Infamous Middle Fingers

• M.I.A.

Singer must finish community service under terms of 2009 plea deal.
By Gil Kaufman

Chris Brown
Photo: Getty Images

In a status hearing on Thursday in Los Angeles, a judge said that Chris Brown is doing a good job complying with the terms of his sentence for assaulting then-girlfriend Rihanna in 2009, but that he must remain under the supervision of a probation officer for the time being.

According to the Associated Press, Brown was not in court for the hearing where his attorney asked that the singer's supervised probation end thanks to his good behavior. Superior Court judge George Lomeli, however, agreed with prosecutors, who argued that even with Brown's good marks to date, he should keep reporting to a probation officer in his home state, Virginia.

Brown's attorney, Mark Geragos, attempted to end the probation, which is part of the sentence Brown received in June 2009 when he agreed to a plea deal
 in which he plead guilty to one count of felony assault and was sentenced to 180 days of community labor and five years of probation. Geragos pointed to a probation report that said that Brown had been truthful with officers, passed all required drug tests and "has made great strides" while under probation.

To date, Brown has completed half of the six months of roadside cleanup, graffiti removal and other manual labor he was ordered to do under the terms of the deal. But the AP reported that Lomeli didn't think it was unreasonable for Brown to say under supervision while he finishes the rest of his community service hours. The singer has already completed anger management and domestic violence counseling and a different judge in the case agreed last year to relax a restraining order that barred Brown and Rihanna from contacting each other or getting too close to one another at music industry events.

The hearing came just days before Brown and Rihanna are slated to return to the Grammy stage
 for the first time since the February 2009 assault. In advance, tongues have already begun wagging, with rumors flying last month that the exes have reunited recently and have been spending time together again.

Chaos! Profanity! Wardrobe malfunctions! Don't miss Sway and James Montgomery live from the Grammys red carpet this Sunday, February 12, for a full three hours of mayhem, starting at 5 p.m. ET on MTV.com. And the fun doesn't end Sunday: MTV News has you covered until the Grammy hangover wears off!

• MTV News Extended Play: Rihanna
• A Guide To The Grammys 2012

• Chris Brown

'It's not a chick flick because it's good,' co-star Scott Speedman tells MTV News.
By Christina Garibaldi, with additional reporting by Kara Warner

Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum in "The Vow"
Photo: Sony Pictures

"The Vow" has all the ingredients for the perfect Valentine's Day movie: love, heartbreak, tragedy and a lot of tears. It also doesn't hurt that the film's stars, Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams, both have romantic movies on their resumes with "Dear John" and "The Notebook."

"The Vow," which premieres Friday (February 10) and is loosely based on a true story, finds Tatum's character, Leo, struggling to win back his wife, Paige (McAdams), after a tragic accident erases her memory. For all girls out there, this sounds like an ideal date night flick, but according to the Tatum, it's something the men can relate to as well.

"It's told through the guy's perspective," Tatum told MTV News. "You don't just need some horrible accident to not really know someone in a relationship, you can kind of grow apart and they can not recognize them and to see somebody try so hard to get back to that is cool."

Tatum's co-star Scott Speedman, who adds a bit of controversy into the film by playing Paige's ex-fiancé, Jeremy, promises all the male viewers they will enjoy this movie for one simple reason.

"It's not a chick flick because it's good," Speedman laughed. "And I think the director also kept it from being too melodramatic and over the top, which is, I think, what guys really don't like. When it feels like manipulative, I know that's what I don't like. If a movie's just sincere and it's just unique and if it has very romantic elements, that's something I don't mind watching at all."

Are all the male moviegoers still not convinced? Well, Speedman gives us the most important reason fans should see "The Vow": "I'm in it."

Are you planning on seeing "The Vow" this weekend? Let us know in the comments section!

Check out everything we've got on "The Vow."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more -- updated around the clock -- visit MTVMoviesBlog.com

'We welcome you to share in our joy,' reads a note posted with the five photos, signed by 'the Carter family.'
By Kelley L. Carter

Beyoncé and Blue Ivy Carter
Photo: Courtesy of the Carter family

And now we've seen her.

On Friday (February 10), Jay-Z posted the first photos of his and Beyoncé's daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, on his Life + Times website.

The rapper and his superstar wife are seen in the photos holding the newborn in a series of five photos. In the first large photo, we see the baby swathed in a polka-dot wrap sleeping. In the remaining images, she has her eyes wide open and is being held by her beaming mother, and in another, her back is to us while she's being held by her smiling father.

Photos: Blue Ivy Carter revealed.

There's a note that reads: "We welcome you to share in our joy. Thank you for respecting our privacy during this beautiful time in our lives. The Carter family."

The baby-picture reveal is just the latest Blue Ivy news. On Thursday, it was confirmed that the high-profile couple filed an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to trademark Blue Ivy's name. The patent is intended to prevent the use of their daughter's name by non-related parties. The application was filed by Beyoncé's company, BGK Trademark Holdings, and is currently pending. The Washington Post reported that it will likely get approved, considering that parents are legally authorized to trademark the names of minor children.

Earlier this week, Beyoncé revealed her post-pregnancy body, and she's back in fighting shape only a month after the birth of her baby girl. B was photographed twice this week, including at the first night of Jay-Z's two-night charity stint at Carnegie Hall.

What do you think of the first Blue Ivy photos? Let us know in the comments!

• All About Beyonce And Jay-Z's New Arrival

• Blue Ivy Carter Revealed

• Beyoncé
• Jay-Z

'It's a huge responsibility for me to be in that suit and to take on the mantle from a fantastic actor,' Andrew Garfield tell MTV News.
By Kara Warner, with reporting by Josh Horowitz

Andrew Garfield in "The Amazing Spider-Man"
Photo: Sony Pictures

The upcoming reboot "The Amazing Spider-Man" is a prime example of the pressure filmmakers and studios are under to deliver the best adaptation possible. Anyone who's familiar with comic book movies and the corresponding hoopla that surrounds them is more than accustomed to the demands of their fervent fan communities. If that movie is good, it wins support for life. If it's bad, fans have various ways of expressing their disappointment and are not afraid to do so.

Perhaps no one is feeling that pressure at the moment more than the movie's star himself, Andrew Garfield.

When MTV News caught up with Garfield recently before a screening event for the film, we asked him if his level of stress and anxiety is higher now that the release date is approaching or back when he was first cast in the role.

"It's always the same. It's always a [level] 10 inside. It's just a question of whether you acknowledge it or try to ignore it or try to suppress it, or try to pretend like it's not there or act like you don't care," he said. "I'm at a 10 constantly."

Garfield went on to emphasize how much being a true fan informed his performance, in both positive and negative ways.

"It's a huge responsibility for me to be in that suit and to take on the mantle from a fantastic actor previously and from fantastic artists and writers and ultimately Stan Lee. That's where it came from," he said. "I feel lucky and unlucky that I'm a fan first. That's what I am, I'm a Spider-Man fan at my core. I feel lucky in the sense that I feel like I know Peter Parker, because I grew up with him. I feel unlucky in the sense of how disappointed I am that I'm playing him.

"I don't' mean that in a self-deprecating [way]," he added. "No actor could ever live up to the character for me, and that's weird to say because I'm the actor playing this particular incarnation, I can't wait for another actor to take it on so I can judge."

Check out everything we've got on "The Amazing Spider-Man."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

• MTV Rough Cut: Andrew Garfield

Femcee seems anything but 'new' at this point, but it remains to be seen if her domination translates to Grammy gold come Sunday.
By Rob Markman

Nicki Minaj
Photo: Getty Images

It's getting increasingly difficult to think of Nicki Minaj as a new artist. If you judge the Young Money raptress by the time she's spent in the game, then she is no doubt a newcomer. On the other hand, if you measure the "Super Bass" star by her accomplishments, then she has accumulated enough stats in 14 months to rival some industry veterans.

Though it may seem unfair to some that she is even nominated, Nicki's accelerated artistic growth makes her a heavy favorite in the Best New Artist category at the 54th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday.

When weighted against other Best New noms like the Band Perry, Bon Iver, J. Cole and Skrillex, Nicki's path is a unique one. She started out an MC but grew into so much more under the direction of YM head honcho Lil Wayne. When Weezy first discovered Minaj rapping on a street DVD, she was as cocksure and combative as any of her male counterparts, but after signing with Young Money, Nicki used the platform to amplify the natural performance talents that existed within. There were glimpses on her 2009 mixtape Beam Me Up Scotty, but it wasn't until the Harajuku Barbie dropped her debut, Pink Friday, in November 2010 that her full potential was unleashed, when she displayed her passion for both rapping and singing.

Yes, technically her debut album was released in the 2010 calendar year, but the Grammy calendar does leave wiggle room and make her eligible for the Best New Artist nomination. The Queens, New York, rap star didn't start out the gate as hot as some speculated, but she did snag the #1 album spot on the Billboard charts in her 11th week. In October 2010, Minaj set a record for having the most singles on the Hot 100, notching seven songs at the same time. "Your Love," "Right Thru Me" and the Drake-featuring "Moment 4 Life" all made significant radio impact, but it was "Super Bass" that proved to be her biggest and most inescapable hit.

Nicki, with the help of alter ego Roman, has emerged as a strong visual artist as well through her "Moment 4 Life" video and the super colorful "Super Bass." The rap rook has also toured with Britney Spears and Lil Wayne.

It's also important to note that Nicki's prowess in the studio has led her to be a ubiquitous figure in pop culture. She has had a Barbie doll made in her likeness, inked a deal for her own nail polish with OPI, became the face of MAC's 2012 Viva Glam campaign and has either appeared on the covers or shot for too many glamour magazines to name.

Yes, Nicki Minaj does seem to be a lock for Best New Artist, but then again, this is the Grammys and no one ever thought Esperanza Spalding would beat out pop icon Justin Bieber. So maybe the Band Perry have a shot after all.

Chaos! Profanity! Wardrobe malfunctions! Don't miss Sway and James Montgomery live from the Grammys red carpet this Sunday, February 12, for a full three hours of mayhem, starting at 5 p.m. ET on MTV.com. And the fun doesn't end Sunday: MTV News has you covered until the Grammy hangover wears off!

• A Guide To The Grammys 2012

• 2012 Grammy Performers

• Nicki Minaj