DJ Booth: Obie Trice, I Am

After leaving Shady Records as the highest selling solo artist not named Eminem, Obie Trice is now looking to catapult himself to the top of the rap game on his own.

On his newly-leaked album cut, I Am, the second leak off his new album following the vengeful Got Hungry, Trice sounds motivated to achieve solo greatness and proves it by coming out with fast and ferocious rhymes.

Produced by newcomer MoSS, the beat mixes in vocals and instrumentals to form an awesome sound, enhanced by DJ Grouch, whose cuts and scratches flow great here.

Trice doesn’t take many cheap shots at Shady Records here, although he does rhyme that Shady, “Took Obie Trice for granted.” As intense as he is on the track, Trice also takes the time to return to his humorous side, dropping clever lines like “I never lose fat, like Subway Jared.”

I Am will appear on Trice’s forthcoming project Special Reserve, due out December 15.

Francis Lawrence Takes On "Small" People Film

Francis Lawrence ("I Am Legend," "Constantine") is tipped to direct a film adaptation of the comic "In the Small" for Warner Bros. Pictures reports Pajiba.

According to Pajiba: Michael Hague's graphic novel concerns a strange explosion that leaves all humans six inches tall, yet nothing else is affected.

Those who survive the transition are forced to create a new social order and adjust in a world where man is no longer at the top of the food chain. As they attempt to find out what happened, humanity is faced with a new and existential threat.

Earlier this month Lawrence replaced Guy Ritchie as the director on the WW2 comic adaptation "Sgt. Rock." Akiva Goldsman is set to produce both projects.

After “I Am Legend,” it’s hard for me to say that I think Lawrence will do a great job on something that will require extensive special effects, but the story seems interesting enough.

Having said that, I still can’t forget how terrible and fake the ‘vampire’ type creatures looked in “I Am Legend.” That film really did have the potential to be an amazing science fiction film, but instead was just Will Smith running around in an empty Manhattan.

Lawrence has several projects in development that could be his next picture. Besides “Sgt. Rock” he also has Michael Chabon's "Snow and Seven" and an adaptation of "Water for Elephants."

DJ Booth: Kelis, "Acapella"

Earlier this year, after splitting up with husband Nas, singer Kelis found herself single and very pregnant. A new album was probably the last thing on her mind, but what a difference a few months can make.

On her new single, Acapella, Kelis talks about love and life and shows her range and talent as a singer. Producer David Guetta, whose last DJBooth feature Memories earned him reader approval, proves he is a master at mixing up sounds, and knows just when to slow the beat down for dramatic effect.

Even though the track has an energetic, upbeat feel, vocally Kelis is working through some real emotional pain, sounding much more mature than she did in her chart topper Milkshake, from way back in 2003. Her lost love and emotional pain is perfectly described in a metaphor, as she sings, “Before you my whole life was acapella, now a symphony is the only song to sing.”

Acapella will be off Kelis’ currently untitled fifth studio album, set for a release in early 2010.

Ansari Sells Three Films to Judd Apatow

Aziz Ansari and Jason Woliner, who previously worked together on sketch comedy series "Human Giant", have sold three comedy pitches to Judd Apatow and Universal Pictures reports Variety.

According to Variety: The first pitch is "Let's Do This," a road movie about two guys who work for a motivational speaking company. Next is an untitled project about a disgraced astronaut (Ansari), who is forced to return to outer space to clear his name. The last project is also untitled and somehow ties in with Ansari's supporting role in Apatow's "Funny People."

Said Ansari: “We didn’t expect all three to work. We had a breakfast meeting with Judd and pitched them. We were like, ‘Which one do you like?’ He wanted all three.”

Ansari and Woliner will write at least one of the projects together with Woliner attached to direct and Ansari to appear in all three. Ansari will be seen next year in director Nick Stoller’s “Get Him to the Greek,” which is a sort of spin off from “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” that Apatow is producing for Universal.

I’m always pretty excited for any project that has Judd Apatow’s name attached, and all three sound like they could be some quality comedy films. Ansari used to perform at Upright Citizen's Brigade Theatre in New York City and also had a role in “I Love You, Man” as well as “Observe and Report,” with Seth Rogen. Ansari has also been great in the second season of “Parks and Recreation,” and he was absolutely hilarious while on the sketch show “Human Giant.”

More exposure is just what he needs to possibly move up to the higher echelon of the comedy industry. The fact that he has a relationship with Apatow can only be a positive for his career and his upcoming projects.

DJ Booth: T.I., "Let Em Talk"

T.I. may be currently serving time, but he keeps finding ways to keep himself relevant.

On the new track Let Em Talk, T.I. hooks up with fellow Grand Hustlers Big Kuntry and Brandon (one-half of Nard & B) for a track that’s as Southern as it gets, but (unfortunately) could leave fans hoping for a new Southern anthem likely disappointed.

The production, done by Nard & B, is nothing revolutionary, staying the same pace throughout the track, and while T.I. sounds serious on his opening verse, leaving out his usual witty, snappy lines, ultimately his contribution is mediocre at best. In fact, the standout here is Big Kuntry, who aptly towers over both T.I., providing some fresh perspective to the record’s been there, done that “stop snitchin” theme.

Let ‘Em Talk will be used on two upcoming mixtape projects, Big Kuntry King’s Cocaine 2 and Brandon Presents: Max Altitude, neither of which have set release dates.

Idris Elba Joins "Thor" Cast

Idris Elba ("The Wire," "The Office") is set to play Heimdall, the guardian of Asgard, in Kenneth Branagh's upcoming superhero adaptation "Thor" for Marvel Studios, reports Heat Vision.

According to Heat Vision: Heimdall "stands on the BiFrost Bridge ready to defend the city from intruders." Elba joins an extensive cast that includes Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins, Jaimie Alexander, Colm Feore, Samuel L. Jackson, Stellan Skarsgard, Stuart Townsend and Ray Stevenson.

This is just more great news for fans of “Thor,” who are hoping this movie can catapult the hero into “Iron Man”-like stardom. Elba is a fantastic actor as he proved by playing Stringer Bell on “The Wire.” He showed ferocity and great range with that role, and has the ability to play a total badass. He is another welcome addition to the already great cast of this film.

Shooting kicks off mid-January in Manhattan Beach, California. The comic book adaptation will be released through Paramount Pictures on May 20, 2011.

Best Documentary Shortlist Announced by Academy

I love this time of year. The NFL makes its push towards the postseason, Christmas time is just around the corner, and best of all, it’s the start of film awards season. Academy Award speculation runs rampant around this time, as fans and critics wonder who will get nominated and who will be snubbed.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences documentary committee has watched the 89 eligible docs that were submitted and narrowed the field down to 15. The Academy announced the 15 films on the shortlist for Best Documentary, and there were quite a few glaring omissions.

The most notable is Michael Moore’s documentary "Capitalism: A Love Story." Moore’s documentary “Bowling For Columbine” won the award in 2002, and while his other films also have been controversial, but they are some of the best quality documentaries out there. Another film that was noticeably absent was the critical darling “Anvil! The Story of Anvil.” The film has been one of the best reviewed documentaries of the year, and according to Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 98% approval rating--the best of any documentary. To put that number in context, last year the documentary “Man on Wire” held the same distinction, and went on to win the award.

Other noteworthy omissions: critical hits "Tyson" (about controversial boxer Mike Tyson), and "The September Issue" (about Anna Wintour and Vogue’s massive fall issue).

Sometimes, I think the Academy can be too methodical for its own good. Between specific rules, and eligibility guidelines, many times the best films (or songs) don’t receive nominations when they absolutely should. A good example of this was last year when Bruce Springsteen’s song for “The Wrestler” wasn’t even nominated, even though there were only three nominees up for the category of Best Song.

Of the 15 finalists, some notable titles include “Food Inc.,” which examines large-scale agricultural food production in the U.S., and “Soundtrack for a Revolution,” which tells the story of the American civil rights movement through its powerful music. Also on the list was one of the most interesting and shocking movies I’ve seen a long time, “The Cove.” Using state-of-the-art equipment, a group of activists infiltrate a cove near Taijii, Japan to expose both a shocking instance of animal abuse and a serious threat to human health.

The 15 finalists will be narrowed down to five when the Academy Award nominations are released on February 2nd, 2010.

"Kick-Ass" Teaser Trailer Hits the Internet

The teaser trailer for Matthew Vaughn’s highly anticipated "Kick-Ass" has arrived online.

The comic book adaptation stars Aaron Johnson, in the story of a high school geek who decides to become a costumed vigilante. The cast also includes Nicolas Cage and Chloe Moretz (as the father-daughter vigilantes, Big Daddy and Hit Girl), and Christopher Mintz-Plasse (as copycat vigilante, Red Mist).

The film received a great deal of attention at this year’s Comic-Con when the producers screened footage for fans, which raved about Vaughn’s faithfulness to the comic book. Word of mouth spread. The trailer doesn’t reveal that much, but it doesn’t need to. The simplicity of it is what makes it a great way to introduce "Kick-Ass" to people who might not know that much about the project.

The trailer shows a little bit of each character in costume and doing a bit of, well… kicking ass. This movie feels like something different than we have ever seen before from past comic book adaptations; it’s like an adolescent version of “Watchmen,” but way more fun.

Hopefully, a full-length trailer will come out soon and show the characters doing more of what they do best: Kick Ass.

“Kick Ass” will be released April 16, 2010.

Anne Hathaway Up for 'Spider-Man 4' Role?

What do you get when you have a big-budget franchise and an unfinished cast? Internet rumors by the dozen. So it goes in Hollywood as the list of women who may or may not appear in "Spider-Man 4" continues to grow.

Nikki Finke at Deadline Hollywood reports through her sources that producers have "approached" Anne Hathaway regarding a starring role in "Spider-Man 4." Finke doesn't say she's been offered the role, or that she's in negotiations to take on the role, only that she's been approached.

According to Finke: “While Sony Pictures insists no decisions have been made, sources tell me that the producers have approached Anne Hathaway to star in the film. Maybe you experts have an idea what she'll play? All I know is that she's wanted for a starring role, and she won't replace Kirsten Dunst who's also cast in the Spidey fourquel.”

The role is most likely for Black Cat, which in recent weeks has been has seen actresses names such as Rachel McAdams (who quashed that rumor) and Julia Stiles come up as possible choices.Hathaway could be a very good choice if she’s up for the role of Felisha Hardy, who’s better known as the sometimes good crime fighter, sometimes bad thief the Black Cat. She showed in last summer’s "Get Smart" that she can play a role that requires stunts and fighting work. Also her ‘girl next door’ charm and good looks could make her an ideal choice to be another love interest for Peter Parker.

Only time will tell if the rumor turns out to be true, but Hathaway would be a welcome addition to the Spider-Man franchise."Spider-Man 4" hits theaters on May 6, 2011.

DJ Booth: Cold Case Love, Rihanna

Based on her last two singles, Russian Roulette and Hard, it feels like Rihanna’s upcoming album Rated R will feature a remarkably different sound than we’re used to from the hip-hop starlet. We all know the hard times she’s been through recently, and those emotions have come out in her recent music.

On her new possible new single Cold Case Love, she departs from that dark sound and gives us an emotional anthem. Produced by Justin Timberlake and Rob Knox, the track starts off with a soft organ and piano melody, then segues into Rihanna belting out the some if the track’s deep, somber lyrics: “We opened up a cold case love, and it got the best of us.” The track’s more of an epic ode to losing out on love than a radio hit, but something tells me Rihanna fans will love it all the same.

The highly, highly anticipated Rated R is slated to drop November 23.

Filming on Marvel’s “Thor” Set for January

Filming on Marvel’s highly anticipated adaptation of “Thor” is set to start in Los Angeles starting in January, reports Production Weekly, via Twitter.

The film is directed by Kenneth Branagh and stars Chris Hemsworth as the titular hero, along with Tom Hiddleston, Natalie Portman, Jaimie Alexander, Colm Feore and Samuel L. Jackson. The film will have the powerful but arrogant warrior sent down to Earth and be forced to live among humans as punishment for nearly igniting a war. While on Earth, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero, and must battle the darkest forces of his own world when his rival sends them to invade Earth.

According to Production Weekly: “Filming on Marvel's 'Thor' is scheduled to begin in LA mid-January, then move to Santa Fe, New Mexico from March till late-April.”

This is big news for both Marvel and the “Thor” film itself. After “Iron Man 2," Marvel plans to release both “Thor” and “Captain America: The First Avenger” before releasing “The Avengers” film in 2012. How both those films perform will have a large impact on how the studio will proceed with “Avengers.”

Although “Thor” is not one of Marvel’s most popular or known heroes, I think this film has great potential. Hemsworth was a scene-stealer in “Star Trek” earlier this year, playing Captain Kirk’s father and Portman is a fantastic actress with great range. What I think is most intriguing is the fact that Branagh is directing. He was not the most typical choice, but neither was Jon Favreau for “Iron Man,” and we all know how that turned out.

“Thor” will be released in 2011.

Harvey Keitel Joins "Little Fockers"

Sequels usually mean big business in Hollywood. Threequels? Sometimes even bigger. No matter what franchise it is, Hollywood will churn out as much as it can, and in this case, they have Focker fever.

Harvey Keitel has joined the cast of the third 'Meet the Parents' feature "Little Fockers" for Universal and Tribeca Productions. according to The Hollywood Reporter.Ben Stiller, Teri Polo, Robert De Niro, Blythe Danner and Owen Wilson all are returning for the comedy. It is the first film in the series not to be directed by Jay Roach, previously known as the director of Austin Powers films, and instead by Paul Weitz.

After marrying Pam, the daughter of a retired CIA agent, after the events of the second film, Gaylord "Greg" Focker has since had five-year old twins. The film will circle around the couple trying to cope with raising their two five-year old children. Writer John Hamburg said the film will deal with "themes of death and divorce and all these real things that as we get older, we start to think about, but in a really comical way."

Keitel, who will play a contractor employed by Stiller's character, joins Laura Dern and Jessica Alba as new members of the cast. Dern will play the headmistress of the elementary school attended by the twins, while Alba will play the role of an attractive pharmaceutical representative whose good looks wreak havoc on male characters in the story.

Sometimes franchises that extend for two sequels can become stagnant, but in this case I think it is a good idea. The first two films were both pretty funny, and also were successful at the box office. Ben Stiller has proved over the years that he is one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood, and with the addition of Keitel, the film clearly has a great supporting cast.

“Little Fockers” is set to be released in July 2010.

The Kid Returns to the Emerald City

Ken Griffey Jr. is back. I don't care what his average was or how many home runs he hit, Griffey did so much more for the Mariner's than can be shown on a stat sheet.

He helped change the feel and culture of the clubhouse and help revitalize a team that went from 61 wins in 2008 to 85 in 2009.

The Mariners may still be a few years (and a big bat) away from the playoffs, but I wouldn;t want Griffey anywhere else in 2010 but in a Mariner's uniform

Tina Fey and Steve Carell's 'Date Night' Movie Trailer

I just recently started writing for an Entertainment blog, Week In Rewind. Here is my latest entry:

Right now, two of the biggest names in comedy are Steve Carell and Tina Fey. The duo is easily the king and queen of sitcoms, holding down NBC’s Thursday night lineup on “The Office” and “30 Rock.”

In the upcoming “Date Night,” Carell and Fey star as a married couple looking to spice up their romance by having a night on the town. The film was directed by Shawn Levy (of "Night at The Museum" fame) and written by Josh Klausne (the "Shrek" films). The trailer finally hit the Internet, and while it wasn’t amazing, it definitely shows a great deal of potential.

From the sound of the title you’d think it was straight romantic comedy, but from the trailer it seems like an action romantic comedy. How many of those are out there? Not too many. This could either bode very well for the film, or be a disaster. I’ll guess it will be the former, because Carell and Fey look to have great chemistry in the trailer and the film boasts an impressive supporting cast. Along with Mark Wahlberg are James Franco, Mila Kunis, SNL’s Kristen Wiig (who seems to have a role in every hilarious movie out this year), Jason Segel and Common.

Although the trailer wasn’t amazing, I hope that for the first time in the history of film, they decided to leave the funniest jokes out of the trailer. The film hits theaters April 2010.

'Clash of the Titans' Trailer Now Online

I just recently started writing for an Entertainment blog, Week In Rewind. Here is my latest entry:

After last year’s "The Incredible Hulk," director Louis Leterrier proved he could handle a big-budget action flick. Although "Hulk" was clearly not as good as another Marvel film from that summer ("Iron Man," duh) it still was a huge step up from Ang Lee’s "Hulk" film from 2003.

Letterier follows up "Hulk" with another big-budget summer film, Warner Bros. remake of “Clash of the Titans.” The trailer for the film finally is available, and although it only runs slightly more than a minute, it shows why “Titans” is one of the most anticipated movies of 2010. Sam Worthington ("Terminator Salvation," "Avatar") headlines an all-star cast, which also includes Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes. The special effects in the trailer look fantastic. All of the Titans, especially the villain Medusa, look extremely realistic, and for anyone who has seen the original, this is a complete visual overhaul.

After seeing the trailer, it’s crazy to think that just a decade ago Letterier was just a production assistant on "Alien: Ressurection." The energy throughout the trailer is great, and Worthington looks like he was a fantastic casting choice. He grunts and fights his way through the trailer with some great ferocity. Worthington has no trouble being comfortable in big-budget films, as he proved with “Terminator Salvation” and surely will prove in the mega-budgeted “Avatar.”

For anyone who is a fan of Greek mythology, the original "Clash of the Titans," or foreign actors, this will be a film not to miss. Here's a link to the trailer, and the film is scheduled for release in summer 2010.

"A-Team" Remake to Feature Original Members

I just recently started writing for an Entertainment blog, Week In Rewind. Here is my first entry:

Movie fans that are following the production of Joe Carnahan’s highly anticipated "The A-Team" remake will be glad to know that the original "A-Team" might be popping up in the reboot.

The upcoming film has a fantastic cast, starring Liam Neeson, 'Rampage' Jackson, Bradley Cooper and Sharlto Copley as a crew of war veterans on the run for a crime they didn’t commit.

At least one of the original members will make an appearance in the film. The Official Dwight Schultz Fansite is reporting the actor, who played the original 'Howling Mad' Murdock, has been on location in Vancouver filming an undisclosed role. They're giving no hints as to who Schultz is playing, but they have relayed his take on "District 9" star Copley filling the same shoes he once did.

Said Schultz: "Sharlto Copely is brilliant beyond words. I saw his screen test and honestly, if Sharlto is given an opportunity to do what I saw in that test, ‘Murdock’ will be better than ever!"

I never watched the original show, and although it seems like every '80s show is getting remade these days, I think "The A-Team" has a great chance to be one of summer 2010’s biggest hits. Carnahan showed he can handle an action film with "Smokin’ Aces," and the four main cast members all seem to be good fits for the roles they are taking over, as seen in the first official photo from the film shown above. In fact, Copley looks to be an almost mirror image of Schultz’s Murdock.

There's no mention if any of the other originals will pop-up in the new film. George Peppard, who first played Liam Neeson’s Hannibal, passed away in 1994, but Dirk Benedict and Mr. T could still join Schultz onscreen.

The A-Team will be released in June 2010.

DJ Booth: Feel It, Three Six Mafia

I recently started contributing to a music website, DJBooth.net, here's my latest entry:

The new single Feel It from the (shockingly) Oscar award-winning rap group Three Six Mafia is an all-star collaboration of talent. The track is produced by DJ Tiesto, arguably the world’s best DJ, and features chart topping artists Flo Rida and Sean Kingston.

The beat starts off hard and fast, and the techno sound never lets up, allowing all three artists to sound energetic and comfortable on top of the fist-pumping production work. Tiesto proves why he is a world renowned producer, making the bass bang loud at all the right times, and knowing when to sit back and just let the beat detonate.

The song also has a catchy chorus line from Kingston, which helps keep the track balanced against Three Six and Flo Rida’s dirty rhymes. The best part of Feel It? When the beat builds up slowly and then explodes in the last minute.

It’s not exactly what fans of the Memphis veterans have come to expect, but new-found success sometimes breeds change. Feel It is off Three Six’ upcoming album Laws of Power, due out in January of 2010.

"Hot Tub Time Machine"....For Real?

What's in a name anyway? Sometimes a movie project comes along and has a title that makes you do a double take and think "that's the best they could come up with?" A recent example could be the new George Clooney film "Men Who Stare At Goats." The reason I bring this up is due to a film that is scheduled to be released next year that looks to be hilarious, titled "Hot Tub Time Machine.".

The film stars John Cusack ("Say Anything"), Craig Robinson ("The Office"), and Rob Corddry ("The Daily Show") as a group of unsatisfied men who return to the ski resort where they used to party when they were younger. They get thrown back in time to their younger days in 1986 after taking a dip in a jacuzzi.

With a name like "Hot Tub Time Machine" it's impossible not to be at least intrigued, but with the great cast, there is great reason to think that this could be a sleeper comedy hit come next year much like "The Hangover."

DJ Booth: Pill, "Hear Somebody Comin'"

I recently started contributing to a music website, DJBooth.net, here's my latest entry:

Many artists use their origins as an inspiration for their music, whether it’s their state, city, or neighborhood. Pill, who hails from the “Pink City” block in Atlanta, has found exactly such inspiration on his new track Hear Somebody Comin’.

The record has a gritty, realistic feel that proves Pill is an artist on the rise. Produced by Tha Bizness, the second the beat drops, a loud siren blares in the background and Pill immediately drops the ominous hook: “I think I hear somebody coming.”

His first verse comes in quick and fast, but is smooth, and his flow is reminiscent of rapper Papoose. Pill has his fingers on the pulse of pop culture and proves it with lines like “I’m the caped crusader, you gonna have to unmask me.”

Hear Somebody Comin is the first leak off the new Evil Empire & DJ Skee Presents 4075: The Refill Mixtape, which is set to drop November 17.

Study Shows Marijuana Good For Cats

In a study released last week by the Feline Institute in Denmark, scientists said that exposure to marijuana can help domesticated cats live up to ten years longer than the worldwide average for most felines.

According to Dr. Erick Johnston, Vice President of the institute and the director of the report, at least 500 pet owners volunteered their cats over the two year study. "The report is a culmination of many years of work," said Johnston. "This is a victory for advocates of feline studies and of the legalization of marijuana. It is another step in proving that marijuana can be used as a medical tool, and not just as a recreational drug."

The project was funded by ThinkAhead, a non-profit advocate for marijuana legalization, and also by various donors including cat food giant, Fancy Feast. The study took place from May 27th, 2007 through June 6th 2009, with many of the tests administered at the Feline Institute, which is located in Edam, a small town outside Amsterdam. Most of the cat owners who participated were residents of Edam, or lived in or around the city.

"When I first heard about the study, I thought it was a joke," said Margaret Burroughs, a resident of Edam. "But I have had my cat for over 15 years, and she has been exposed to marijuana for most of it, yet she remains completely healthy, so I thought I could help the institute."

Dr. Johnston and his team used statistics the Institute has gathered over many years, as well as information provided by each cat owner to determine how the marijuana affected the cats' health and lifespan. The felines involved in the study were of various age and size. The cats ranged from small kittens, to overweight cats, to older domesticated cats and everything in between.

"We wanted to get a full grasp on how the drug can affect felines, so we brought in cats that varied in weight, age and breed," said Dr. Madeylon Verhoeven, Assistant Director of the study. "We had newborn cats, fat cats, elderly cats. We thought it would be the best way to get an accurate picture of how felines are affected by the drug."

Dr. Johnston hopes to present the facts of the study to other advocate groups and other agencies, to help show that marijuana is a beneficial drug.

"The hope of the study was to help feline's first, but we also see this as an opportunity to show that marijuana has positive effects," said Johnston. "It is a step in the right direction, and we hope that we will make a difference in the larger scheme of things."

Entertainment Links 11/5

Here are some news and updates from around the entertainment world:

-Zach Galifianakis, star of "The Hangover" is in negotiations to voice the character of Humpty Dumpty in the upcoming "Shrek" spin-off "Puss in Boots". The story serves as a prequel to the character's appearance in the second "Shrek" film and deals with the feline assassin's first forays as an avenger.

-Director Danny Boyle is set to get back to work on his next project following "Slumdog Millionaire." He will direct the biopic on mountaineer Aron Ralston entitled "127 Hours" for Fox Searchlight reports. Ralston's right forearm got pinned for nearly five days under a boulder during a climb in Utah in May 2003. He used a dull knife to amputate the limb, then scaled a 65-foot sheer wall and hiked out before running into a family that gave him water and food. "Slumdog" scribe Simon Beaufoy will pen the script.

-Sony Pictures has acquired the film rights to Hasbro's classic world conquest strategy board game "Risk". The project marks yet another Hasbro board game property currently in early film development, joining the likes of Michael Bay's "Ouija," Ridley Scott's "Monopoly," Gore Verbinski's "Clue," Peter Berg's "Battleship," and Kevin Lima's"Candy Land".

-A great article on Cinematical.com called "Movies That Everyone Seems To Love But You", focuses in on the Michael Mann film "Heat." While I myself enjoy the movie (my review here), as with most of Mann's work, I also understand the viewpoint of people who dislike the film. It is definitely too long, and I agree with the author's take on the famous diner scene with Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro. Sure it's cool the two legends are on screen at the same time, but other than that, the scene doesn't do much.

DJ Booth: Wyclef Jean featuring Eve, "Suicide Love"

I recently started contributing to a music website, DJBooth.net, here's my latest entry:

Over the years, Wyclef Jean has been an artist who has taken on many roles: rapper, political activist, philanthropist. For his new DJ Drama affiliated project From The Hut to The Projects to The Mansion, he dons yet another role: Haitian revolutionary. Taking on the character of “Toussaint,” Wyclef emerges with an emotional album, exemplified by the new single "Suicide Love" featuring Eve.

Produced by Wyclef and longtime music partner Jerry “Wonda” Duplessis, the track starts off with a futuristic, synthetic piano sound that smoothly transitions into the first verse. Wyclef has an emotional tone in his flow, and his lyrics reflect that feeling with lines like “I got suicide love for you…I would die for you.”

Eve, who made a name for herself by acting like a tough girl, shows a more sensitive side, describing her ideas on love with a great film reference when she rhymes: “Alabama, I’m your True Romance.” Wyclef’s new album is set to drop on Nov. 10. Keep it locked to DJBooth.net for all the latest.

Entertainment Links 11/4

Here are some news and updates from around the entertainment world:

-For fans of the 90's film "Scream," you'll be happy to hear that scribe Kevin Williamson is busy finishing up the script for the fourth film and a fifth one is already being planned which he's also signed to write. Stars Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette are all set to return and director Wes Craven has expressed interest but hasn't committed as yet.

-One of the coolest movie websites out there is Art of the Title Sequence, and they just broke out a new category on the site for 'single take' opening titles. This is part 1, and has classic single shot takes from Robert Altman's "The Player," and Alfred Hitchcock's classic, "Touch of Evil."

-A great article from The New York Times on Matt Damon, describing him as Hollywood's "A-List Character Actor ."

-A review from Slate.com on the new ABC series "V", which aired last night. The classic '80s series gets a post-9/11 update and stars Elizabeth Mitchell ("Lost") and Scott Wolf ("Party of Five").

-In news that may get some people feeling nostalgia for their elementary school days, the classic cartoon and book series "The Berenstain Bears", will be getting the feature film treatment. The project will be produced by director Shaun Levy ("Night at the Museum"), and will combine live action and computer animation.

DJ Booth

I recently started contributing to a music website, DJBooth.net, here's my latest entry:

The Washington D.C. area hip-hop scene has produced a lot of quality music over the years, including, Asheru, Low Budget, and more recently and most prominently, Wale. Recently, the hip-hop duo Fly Gypsy has also emerged from the up-and-coming area, gaining fans and buzz with some infectious beats and catchy hooks.

Comprised of producer and songwriter, Alexei Jendayi, and Jamaican-born emcee, Kowboy Kom, the group launched in July 2009, with the release of the summertime single You, a hit that’s given Gypsy a momentum that’s resulted in their new single, 2 Step. Produced by Jendayi, 2 Step has a fresh, and optimistic sound featuring a smooth, soulful flow from Kom complete with some great cultural references (listen for “the Huxtables” name drop).

Ultimately 2 Step is an eclectic sound of instruments, background vocals and synthetic beats that shows why Fly Gypsy has been growing in popularity. The single can be found off the group’s upcoming EP, Change For a Dollar which drops December 1.

'Southland' Back From the Dead

In some fantastic TV news, it's official: the recently cancelled NBC series 'Southland' will be returning for a second season on TNT.

Starting in January the network will re-air the series’ original seven episodes NBC broadcast, plus the six new hours that NBC ordered but chose not to air. Depending on ratings, TNT will order more episodes.

TNT has put the show in the 10 p.m. time slot on Tuesday night, going head-to-head with 'The Jay Leno Show'. This really is great news, because 'Southland' seemed like it had the potential to be one of the great dramas on television.

What makes the move even more interesting is that one reason NBC canceled the show, was because they didn't have enough time slots with Leno taking up 10 p.m. five nights a week. Hopefully 'Southland' will win over some new viewers on TNT and show why it deserved to be picked up for a second season.