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By Michael Lopez

Over the past few years, there have been tons of movies hoping to give the Santa Claus legend a fresh spin. But none in recent memory come off quite as creative (or fun) as Arthur Christmas. This unique animated outing isn't just exciting for kids, it's great for anyone who's ever left milk and cookies by the Christmas tree.

Created by England's Aardman Studios, Arthur definitely feels wackier than anything you'd expect from Pixar. The characters are much more exaggerated (which is a good thing), the pace is a little more manic, and the jokes have a great British wit behind them. But beyond all that, Aardman has created a very lively and engaging plot.

One big thing that Arthur has going for it is its incredible opening sequence. As the story begins, we find that Santa's gift-giving has become something of a Mission: Impossible. There are elves using night vision goggles, computerized spy equipment, and cloaking devices to ensure that the "nice" kids get presents under their trees.

Santa is in charge of the operation, but we soon discover that he may be due to retire. So the question is, who will take his place? The frontrunner is his son Steve (voiced by House’s Hugh Laurie), a buff military type who's eager to sign on. But Mr. Claus also has another son named Arthur (voiced by James McAvoy). Sweet, good-natured, and incredibly clumsy, Arthur seems like a long shot for the job.

But then, late Christmas night it's discovered that the North Pole’s military operation has forgotten to deliver a gift to one little girl. Everyone on Santa's team seems willing to let it go. Everyone except Arthur. Venturing out with his cranky grandpa, a zany elf named Bryony, and some rickety reindeer, Arthur decides to make the trip (and gets into all kinds of shenanigans along the way).

You can imagine where things go from there. Staying true to its family-friendly roots, Arthur Christmas showcases nobility, determination, and (as with every seasonal movie) the spirit of giving. But the great thing about this flick is, it does it in a fun, inventive, and very original way. Arthur Christmas is definitely not your typical holiday fluff and that's exactly why we love it!

Bottom line: Who cant love a funny movie about Santa Claus? Especially when it's done with such a fresh and loving slant. All of your favorite Christmas icons are here (Santa, Mrs. Claus, the helper elves), but not as you'd expect them to be. And better yet, Arthur Christmas has created some great new characters to fall in love with. Anyone looking for a "feel-good" holiday movie (without the R-Rated mayhem of Harold & Kumar) will not be disappointed with this animated gem.

What's your favorite Santa Claus movie? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Aardman Studios, Arthur Christmas, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Christmas, Holidays, Hugh Laurie, James McAvoy, Movie Reviews, Movies & CineMás, Santa Claus

By Michael Lopez

Sure we like to poke fun at all of the chisme stories celebrities get entangled in, but when it comes down to it, most of Hollywood has a very big heart. And this weekend brought out a ton of stars helping needy families at Thanksgiving soup kitchens.

Kim Kardashian made a very public appearance at the Los Angeles Mission on Thursday, dishing out turkey and biscuits to hungry So Cal residents. Jennifer Love Hewitt and Zoe Saldana also lent a helping hand, much to delight of their hungry fans.

Elsewhere in the country, famous names like Chris Bosh, Mike Epps, and Lil Wayne made charitable appearances and even handed out whole turkeys. Judging from the pictures that were posted online, it's clear their good tidings were a huge success and helped set a good example to everyone watching giant floats on their TVs.

Positive vibes made their way to the Twitterverse too, with tons of celebrity well-wishers sending out grateful posts for their holiday dinners. Harold & Kumar’s Neil Patrick Harris told his followers what he was most thankful for.

"Happy Thanksgiving everyone. There are so many things to be thankful for this year, I’m very blessed. Hope you had a stress free day," he posted.

Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi threw in a heart symbol for her holiday tweet.

"Happy Thanksgiving tweedos!!! Enjoy your time with your fam ♥," she wrote.

And several Tr3s faves made sure their fans shared in the turkey day love too.

"Happy Thanksgiving!.. Let's be thankful for what we DO have.. For just breathing fresh air is a blessing. My love to you all!" came from Wilmer Valderrama's account.

Eva Longoria wrote,

"Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! Have a beautiful day with your families and give Thanks to God and anyone who contributes to your life!"

And what holiday is complete without a Sofia Vergara tweet? She even added a little Spanglish into her festive post.

"Feliz thanksgiving everybody!" she tweeted.

Of course, not all celebs made their messages about turkeys. This year, several famous bloggers encouraged their fans to skip Thanksgiving's traditional birds and stick with a vegetarian-based dinner.

"Did you know that every year between 250 and 300 million turkeys are bred for slaughter in The United States?" Ellen DeGeneres wrote. "More than 46 million for Thanksgiving alone. So, this Thanksgiving, instead of eating a turkey, please join me in adopting one from Farm Sanctuary’s Adopt A Turkey Project and you can give a turkey something to be thankful for."

Actress Alicia Silverstone backed up her famous friend, writing,

"It's so simple to create a delicious holiday meal without animal cruelty. I promise no one will miss the turkey! Enjoy!"

Don't worry, we're not judging any turkey eaters. But we definitely respect everyone's opinion and all of the stars who were willing to add a little charity into their four-day weekend.

How did you spend Thanksgiving weekend? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Agentes De Cambio, Alicia Silverstone, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Celebrities, Chris Bosh, Ellen DeGeneres, Eva Longoria, Holidays, Kim Kardashian, Lil Wayne, Mike Epps, Neil Patrick Harris, Snooki, sofia vergara, Thanksgiving, Wilmer Valderrama, Zoe Saldana

By Astrid Rivera

Happy Turkey Day Everyone! This year I'm thankful that I got to kick off the holiday with a little help from the musical powerhouse that is The Black Eyed Peas. Last night the fierce foursome hit Miami with a heavy dosage of boom boom pow and everything in between.

The star-studded event included performances by Sean Kingston, T-Pain, Jason Derulo, Queen Latifah (who was also hosting) and Cee Lo Green, among many others. Everyone definitely had a feeling that this was going to be a good night and the group did not disappoint, meeting and exceeding everyone's expectations. The concert was an action-packed roller coaster ride that had the audience laughing, crying and dancing mindlessly to the addictive beats that only The Black Eyed Peas could create.

I'm still on a B.E.P. high but I'll do my best to sum up the highlights of the night. T-Pain, who actually stopped mid-song to sit down because as he puts it, "I don't know if you guys know this, but I'm fat.", treated the sold-out Sun Life stadium to a heck of a show.

Our local hometown hero Jason Derulo got the sexy vibe going on as he ripped his shirt off during his hit Don't Wanna Go Home (estaba buenísimo!). Queen Latifah kept the crowd on its toes and she surprised everyone by performing along side The Voice's celebrity judge Cee Lo Green.

The crowd roared in anticipation as the lights went down for one final time and then out of the darkness, boom, The Black Eyed Peas bounded on stage and began to belt out Rock That Body- which they literally did. The group amazed the audience with a glimpse into the future of music complete with stunning lasers, flying spaceships and even robots.

At one point creative genius Will.I.Am hopped onto his flyer saucer and elevated about hundreds of screaming fans to perform an hour-long DJ set. He gave Ultra Music Festival a run for its money, as the artist blasted out insane tracks to a wild audience who danced so much you could feel the stadium vibrating.

Fergie looked amazing throughout every wardrobe change and performed some of her classic solo hits like Glamorous and Big Girls Don't Cry (surprisingly a lot of men knew the lyrics to that one, guess big boys don't cry either).

Taboo was definitely representing for the Latino community all night, screaming out,

"Dónde están mis Latinos?!" Even Will.I.Am spoke some Spanish to the ladies saying, "Dónde están las chicas bonitas?"

From partying and laughing, the crowd soon began to get teary eyed during a special performance of Where Is The Love. Taboo brought out his mother on stage as he told the crowd,

"Without this woman I wouldn't be standing here right now." He lovingly turned to her and expressed his love in Spanish, "Madre mía, te quiero con toda mi alma."

Turning back to the crowd Taboo said,

"I don't even want to take my family for granted so if you have a special person in your life I want you to put your hearts up."

Hand-made hearts flooded the crowed as Will.I.Am stepped in and expressed his love for all the pea-bodies, reminiscing about the first gig the group ever had getting paid $30 and how incredible it is that their dream grew so big.

The love that The Black Eyed Peas feel for each other and for their fans is genuine and was transparent at every moment of the show. Even more amazing was the way that each member gives back to the community and inspires the youth to do greater things.

Apl.De.Ap sang a special song called We Can Be Anything, which is the theme song of his new organization Charity Dreams aimed at fixing the lack of education and targets the youth in his native Philippines. Will.I.Am urged the youth,

"I've seen the world and what America needs is more doctors, engineers, scientists- don't let anybody tell you no."

The concert ended with a bang as I've Got A Feeling blasted and confetti filled the air. Before saying goodbye Will.I.Am made one thing clear, "We are NOT breaking up, we're just taking a little vacation." I left the stadium feeling more inspired than I have in a long time and I now understand why the group titled their latest album The Beginning. This is the start of great things for each of these musical visionaries and I can't wait to see what they'll do next.

Tags apl.de.ap, Astrid Rivera, Cee Lo Green, Fergie, Jason Derulo, Queen Latifah, Sean Kingston, T-Pain, Taboo, The Black Eyed Peas, The Voice, Ultra Music Festival, Will.I.am

By Michael Lopez

C'mon, we all get pretty bored with the same old stuffing and cranberry sauce. That's why this Thanksgiving we thought it would be fun to explore some spicier options for la cocina. Several Hispanic chefs and food sites have offered their own unique take on turkey day and we thought it would be fun to share the ideas with you.

One of our favorite Latina cooking queens happens to be Marcela Valladolid. The host of The Food Network's Mexican Made Easy (and one of our Hispanic Heritage Month Coolturistas), Marcela shares dozens of Spanish-style recipes on her site. One we found to be particularly festive was for Turkey Picadillo Sloppy Joes. A textured mix of ground turkey, jalapeños, garlic cloves, and tomato puree, it'll definitely bring a unique twist to any family dinner table.

The trendy ladies' site She Knows also has some great Mexican-flavored Thanksgiving ideas. Unconventional meal suggestions include Chile Cheese Casserole (made with green chiles and Monterey Jack), Brussels Sprouts and chorizo (covered in queso fresco, yum!), and Pumpkin Fiesta Rice (with just a touch of black pepper).

Fox News Latino mixed in suggestions from their readers. Though the ingredients list wasn't present, just the ideas alone sounded fantastic. There are posts about Pumpkin Margaritas, Pumpkin Flan, and turkeys glazed in guava!

If you're thinking of having an "adults only" party, make sure to Google the recipe for Ponche Crema. Also known as Latino eggnog, it's a special rum concoction that's got a quite a kick and can keep your turkey day festivities flowing long after the sun goes down!

And for all you leftover lovers, Latino food bloggers have shot out a ton of creative ideas. One of our favorites is Turkey Tortilla Soup. Not only will it put your extra carvings to good use, it's a great way to stay warm during the cold November nights. All it requires are turkey slices, broth, shredded cheese, and a hint of taco seasoning.

What are your favorite Latino Thanksgiving recipes? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Cultura, Food, Food Network, Fox News Latino, Holidays, Marcela Valladolid, Mexican Made Easy, She Knows, Thanksgiving

By Michael Lopez

Something tells us people from "Jenny’s block" aren't going to be too happy when they hear this story. The Smoking Gun website recently revealed that JLo's new Fiat ad, which shows her returning to her old Brooklyn neighborhood, is a fraud.

Lopez has already taken a bit of heat for her Fiat endorsement during the AMA's. Many said the blatant advertising during her "Papi" performance was insulting and cheapened the broadcast. But now, her critics have even more reasons to be up-in-arms.

Apparently Jennifer's new car commercial features her driving around the Bronx, talking about how much she loves her old stomping grounds. The catch is, Lopez never even set foot in her old neighborhood and filmed the entire ad at a studio in Los Angeles.

The commercial was done via green screens and CGI trickery. And worse yet, the scenes from Brooklyn featured a JLo body double! Her reps are saying she skipped the trip because of time commitments, but we doubt that excuse will fly with her hometown fans.

What do you think about JLo's new Fiat commercial? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Cars, Chisme, Fiat, Jennifer Lopez, new york, popnews, The Smoking Gun

By Michael Lopez

This past week, Rolling Stone released its official list of the rock era's "100 Greatest Guitarists." Though they definitely got it right with their #1 pick (Jimi Hendrix is indeed a six-stringed god), they seemed to place Carlos Santana much lower than expected. The Supernatural axe man only scored #20!

Nevertheless, we're glad he made the cut. Carlos has been wailing guitar chords for over 40 years and created some of the most famous rock riffs in history.

RS offered a loving tribute to Santana on their "100 Best" profile. Describing his signature style, the magazine wrote,

"Santana's crystalline tone and clean arcing sustain make him the rare instrumentalist who can be identified in just one note."

Unfortunately, Carlos failed to crack their "Guitarist Top 10" (which included Eddie Van Halen, Eric Clapton, and Jimmy Page). But, if you ask us, the bigger crime is the exclusion of all the other axe-slinging Latinos. Perhaps they need to get a few more Juanes and Maná songs on their Playlist.

Who are your favorite Latino guitarists? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags 100 Greatest Guitarists, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Carlos Santana, Eddie Van Halen, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Música, Rolling Stone

By Michael Lopez

Back in October, we told you about Gabriel Iglesias and his Latino-centric comedy show, Stand Up Revolution. Now just two months later, the entire series is available on DVD and co-star Martin Moreno gave us the low down on what to expect.

"I'm very excited about this DVD," Moreno told us in an exclusive interview. "There are going to be a lot of scenes that didn’t make it onto primetime. It's a lot of back and forth between Gabriel and I and the audience. I think when people watch the DVD, they'll get the full effect of the show."

Anyone who caught the series during its Comedy Central run knows Martin delivered some great punchlines. The DVD will showcase all of his best moments, plus new backstage footage and special introductions from Iglesias.

"I can't wait for the fans to see what's on this DVD," Moreno explained. "There are so many thing things that you can't write, like the spontaneous funny stuff that got everyone involved, but couldn't make it to television due to time."

Aside from his "funny stuff" on stage, Martin was also the official Revolution announcer. And that is a role he's come to know very well.

"Gabe asked me to do it," he said. "I introduced him for his two one-hour specials and then he suggested that I get a podium and be the announcer so that I could be on every episode and do a lot of back and forth with him. That’s how that happened."

Moreno explained to us that he'd been drawn to stand up ever since childhood. He cites legendary comics like Eddie Murphy and Paul Rodriguez as influences and even offered a bit of advice for future funnymen looking to step up the mic.

"I actually got some great advice from Paul Rodriguez," Martin told us. "He told me that he once met Bob Hope and asked him for tips. Bob told him, 'find out who you are and when you get on stage, lets us know.' That may be some of the best advice I’ve ever heard."

You can find out exactly "who Martin is" on the stage, as well as Gabriel, Joey Diaz, and Alfred Robles. Just pick up the season one DVD of Stand Up Revolution, available now.

Who's your favorite stand up comic? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Comedy Central, Exclusive Entrevistas, Gabriel Iglesias, Hot Stuff, Martin Moreno, Stand Up Comedy, Stand-Up Revolution, Television, Tr3s Exclusives

By Michael Lopez

Who wouldn't want to swing a nine iron amidst the vast greenery of Brazil? Or perhaps on a beachside course along the coast of Chile? Well if the Professional Golfer's Association has their way, you may see stars like Tiger Woods doing just that in the very near future.

The PGA recently announced the launch of "Tour Latinoamerica," a massive expansion of their professional tournaments, which will include 11 courses in Latin America. Seven countries will now be added to the mix, including Argentina, Brazil, Peru, and Mexico.

And interestingly, the new expansion won’t just be for the club swinging pros. The PGA is hoping their "Tour Latinoamerica" will help encourage lesser-known Hispanic golfers to take to the greens and add more diversity to the sport.

"This expansion into Latin America, when combined with what the Nationwide Tour has been able to accomplish in the region in recent years, is part of the natural progression for golf which continues to grow globally," PGA Commissioner Tim Finchem said. "We see this as an opportunity to help in the further development of elite players across the region."

Finchem also said that he was very excited about the timing of this new Latin American push. Set to debut in 2012, "Tour Latinoamerica" will coincide with Brazil’s increased presence in the athletic community. Rio de Janeiro will soon host both the Olympics and the World Cup, which is certain to stir up a ton of interest with die-hard sports fans.

It is also quite possible that the expansion will shine more attention on the Latinos already making waves in the PGA world. Up-and-comers like Jhonattan Vegas and Carlos Franco are quickly becoming masters of the green and more than deserve their own EA game by this point.

And something tells us that playing against Tiger on their home turf will get them a lot closer to accomplishing that goal (and make for some very exciting televised tourneys).

Who's your favorite Latino golfer? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Carlos Franco, Cultura, Golf, Jhonattan Vegas, PGA, Sports, Tour Latinoamerica

By Michael Lopez

Could Prince Felipe's royal wife be taking a cue from the gaunt and boney Demi Moore? That's what the European media is speculating, particularly after seeing Princess Letizia's frail appearance during her visit to Chile.

A true fairy tale Princess, Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano was initially born into a middle-class Spanish family. By 2003, she was a popular journalist and secretly dating Spain's #1 royal son, Prince Felipe. They married a year later, making her a bona fide aristocrat.

But with royal fame comes royal problems, particularly tons of paparazzi cameras hounding your every move. And the pap's latest Letizia shots are not too flattering. Her skeletal arms are clearly disturbing and her face seems much more withdrawn than normal.

Truth be told, Letizia has been battling eating disorder rumors for some time now. The royal family even had to issue a statement declaring that she has a "healthy and balanced diet." But photos don't lie and the latest Princess pictures tell a very different story.

Do you think Princess Letizia is too skinny? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Chisme, Eating Disorders, popnews, Prince Felipe, Princess Letizia, Royals, Spain

By Michael Lopez

It looks like Eugenio Derbez has some big ambitions about his Hollywood career. Outside from his upcoming sitcom ¡Rob!, he's hoping to work on yet another American TV project, with a little help from Emilio Estefan.

Speaking with People en Español, Eugenio confessed that he's a little unfamiliar with the way things work in La La Land. That's why he's hoping to use a few connections from his pal Emilio to get his creative projects off the ground.

"Estoy empezando de cero en otro país y es muy difícil, pero quiero hacer mis propias producciones,” he explained. "Será como iniciar mi carrera, tendré que demostrar y llevar ideas. Por eso estoy intentando con Emilio para producir. Él está muy emocionado, contento y yo también."

Derbez is keeping hush hush on what ideas he's cooking up, but we imagine they'll be putting his comedic chops to good use. Eugenio's currently getting big laughs in Jack & Jill (especially for his abuelita role) and we can't wait to see what he does next!

Are you looking forward to seeing more of Eugenio Derbez in 2012? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags ¡Rob!, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Emilio Estefan, Eugenio Derbez, Hot Stuff, Television