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By Michael Lopez

It looks like Salma Hayek isn't through playing famous Latinas on the big screen. 10 years after receiving an Academy Award nomination for portraying Frida Kahlo, Hayek's at it again with a possible lead role in an upcoming Maria Felix biopic.

Felix, who passed away in 2002, was one of Mexican cinema's most iconic leading ladies. She rose to fame during the 40's and 50's for her tough female roles and became just as famous for her private life, which included a whirlwind romance with French millionaire Alex Berger.

Interestingly, Salma hooked up with a rich Frenchman herself and has proven to be a modern-day "La Doña" (as Maria was called) for Mexican moviegoers. The ironic twist is, Felix was reportedly not a fan of Hayek's work and many are claiming she would be upset if she knew Salma was playing her.

But anyone who's seen Hayek's recent work knows she's more than capable of holding her own in a heavy drama. Currently in pre-production, we can hopefully expect the La Doña story to hit theaters sometime in 2013.

Are you a fan of La Doña? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Chisme, La Doña, Maria Felix, Movies & CineMás, popnews, Salma Hayek

By Michael Lopez

Would you have a problem with Dame Salma Hayek? Or Lady Salma Hayek? We sure wouldn't. But we're not the citizens of France. It seems several notable French publications are crying foul about a potential knighthood for the Puss In Boots star.

Less about Salma and more about politics, Hayek's knighthood revolves around her hubby Francois Henri Pinault and his father, Francois Sr. French President Nicolas Sarkozy bestowed the family with the honor last week, which many feel is more about friendship than national integrity.

France's National Order of the Legion of Honor (as it is officially called) was first created by Napoleon Bonaparte in the 1800's as an award for military service. Clearly the Pinault fam didn't help the country win any battles, which is why the citizens feel they are not worthy of the title.

France's popular newsmagazine L’Express claims that Bonaparte would "turn over in his grave" if he knew about the Pinaults getting knighted. We think that's stretching things a little, especially when you consider that Hollywood celebs like Clint Eastwood and Jerry Lewis have received the honor too.

Do you think Salma is worthy of knighthood? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Chisme, France, Francois-Henri Pinault, L'Express, Nicolas Sarkozy, Politics, popnews, Salma Hayek

By Michael Lopez

There's no such thing as a boring Salma Hayek interview. The colorful Mexican actress always seems to drop interesting tidbits every time she promotes a new film. For Grown Ups, she dished on eating bugs and now for Puss In Boots, she's talking about her "God-given breasts!"

"I was getting teased a lot because everybody was older and I was the skinny tomboy," Salma told talk show host Graham Norton. "[So] I went to a church that had a saint that was supposed to do a lot of miracles. I put my hands in holy waited and went: 'Please Jesus give me some boobs!"

And, lo and behold, the good Lord answered! Anyone who's seen the skimpy outfits Hayek's donned on the red carpets knows that her voluptuous figure definitely filled out.

Though we doubt praying to God will get you to grow breasts, it seems like a mantra Salma swears by. And if that doesn't work, you could always try adding them to your Santa Claus wishlist.

Do you think God really answered Salma's prayers? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Chisme, Graham Norton, popnews, Puss In Boots, Salma Hayek

By Michael Lopez

By this point, we're all in agreement that Puss In Boots is a nationwide smash. Opening at #1 this weekend, the animated Dreamworks flick raked in over $35 million at the box office. But it's also interesting to note that Puss hit it big in other worldwide markets like Russia, the Ukraine, and the Philippines.

And, as expected, Puss In Boots connected with Latino audiences too. Stars Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek made sure to heavily push the film to the Spanish-speaking crowd, appearing on shows like Despierta America to promote it.

And according to the latest stats, the Latin promo tour worked. Hispanics accounted for 35 percent of the ticket buyers this weekend. And Dreamworks execs still have very high hopes that Puss and company will stay on top for several more weeks.

"Being the No. 1 movie and the likely Halloween weekend record-breaker, we're well-positioned to go into week two, as well as play through the holidays." Dreamworks worldwide marketing head, Anne Globe said.

Of course, Shrek’s furry friend may have some competition on his hands this coming Friday. Can the mighty Puss conquer the stoner exploits of Harold & Kumar? We’ll be very curious to find out.

Did you see Puss In Boots this weekend? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Antonio Banderas, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Dreamworks, Movies & CineMás, Puss In Boots, Salma Hayek

By Michael Lopez

Well, it's official. Puss In Boots is a bona fide smash. The Shrek spinoff scored big bucks at the box office this weekend. And the film's voice cast seemed to see its potential from the moment they stepped in the recording studio, as they explained to us at a recent press conference.

"Working on this film was so much fun," Salma Hayek explained. "Chris Miller is an amazing director. I really cherished the experience I had with him and he really pushed me to explore improvisation and comedy."

And having seen the film, we can definitely vouch for Hayek's comedy chops. Here, she plays the elusive Kitty Softpaws, a new addition to the Shrek universe and a fitting rival for the overconfident Puss (who happens to be voiced by her longtime collaborator Antonio Banderas).

Antonio told us he was thrilled to be playing Puss for the fourth time. He first voiced the character in 2004's Shrek 2 and has been closely associated with swashbuckling kitty ever since.

"Doing this movie was just so easy and fun," he said. "You never feel rushed here like you do in a non-animated feature film."

We're sure part of the "fun" came from Banderas' new animated costar, Humpty Dumpty. Voiced by The Hangover’s Zach Galifianakis, the egg-shaped sidekick has some hilarious lines and a bit of a crafty side too.

"I think Humpty Dumpty is a bit all over the place," Zach said. 'He's a little bit dangerous, but I think he's really trying to have a friendship with Puss. I think deep down in his yolk, he's a good guy."

Other colorful cast members include Amy Sedaris and Billy Bob Thornton as the demented couple Jack & Jill. The Puss In Boots versions of these nursery rhyme favorites are not quite like you would imagine. Here, they're gun-toting outlaws eager for a piece of Puss' hide!

"Fairy tales and nursery rhymes are pretty dark in general," Billy Bob said when describing Jack 2.0. "It was great recreating these edgy and weird characters."

So even though Shrek and Donkey may be gone, it looks like the orange tabby is in some very good company with Puss In Boots!

Who's your favorite Shrek character? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Amy Sedaris, Antonio Banderas, Billy Bob Thornton, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Exclusive Entrevistas, Movies & CineMás, Puss In Boots, Salma Hayek, Shrek, Tr3s Exclusives, Zach Galifianakis

By Michael Lopez

Honestly, it's hard to go into Puss In Boots without a little hesitation. Is this movie going to be a fantastic adventure with Antonio Banderas' swashbuckling kitty? Or an excuse for Dreamworks Animation to juice more money out of the Shrek franchis? Truth be told, it's a little of both. But thankfully, with a winning cast, engaging story, and touches of Latin flair, we're declaring it a winner.

Puss is actually quite an accomplishment in the Hispanic movie making realm. Never before in the U.S. has a mainstream animated film featured two Latin leads. And boy do they help sell the project. Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek fit their feline alter egos perfectly and have just as much chemistry in the cartoon world as they do in those Robert Rodriguez movies.

Director Chris Miller deserves a lot of the credit too. Taking cues from Clint Eastwood westerns and modern day action movies, he's crafted some incredible animated sequences. There's even an homage to Antonio and Salma's first onscreen collaboration, Desperado (flamenco guitars and all).

Despite the fact that our favorite green ogre is nowhere to be found, Shrek fans will find a lot to enjoy with Puss. Known as somewhat of a mysterious character in his last three animated outings, we now get the full Boots back story (including some adorable scenes with him as a kitten).

In his younger years, we learn that Puss formed a bond with an egg-shaped troublemaker named Humpty Dumpty. Though cheery at first, Humpty (voiced by Zach Galifianakis) soon shows some bad guy tendencies and, along with a mischievous cat named Kitty Softpaws, lures Puss into all kinds of trouble.

From there, it's all the typical fairy tale fare you'd expect from a Shrek movie. Giant beanstalks, a demented Jack & Jill, golden eggs dropping from the sky…you get the picture. Though the Puss story doesn't necessarily break new ground in the originality department, the witty dialogue, 3D effects, and fast pace will keep you entertained throughout.

Bottom line: There is no denying that you'll be belting out some solid laughs while watching Puss In Boots. Antonio Banderas is in full machismo mode with this character and that alone may be worth the price of admission. But if you're looking for some Pixar-caliber storytelling, you may be a tad disappointed. Puss doesn't quite live up to all of his swashbuckling potential, but he comes pretty darn close.

Are you planning on watching Puss In Boots? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Antonio Banderas, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Chris Miller, Movie Reviews, Movies & CineMás, Puss In Boots, Salma Hayek, Shrek, Zach Galifianakis

By Michael Lopez

Get ready Shrek fans. In just four days, the green ogre's courageous kitty sidekick is getting his own movie. Anticipation is already huge for this week's Puss In Boots release and the film's director, Chris Miller, spoke to us exclusively about how he brought the animated orange tabby to life.

"We wanted to make a movie that had a legendary, epic feel," Chris explained. "There's some Clint Eastwood in there, along with Indiana Jones and a bit of James Bond."

From a technical perspective, Puss In Boots features some amazing animated action sequences. There are dynamic rooftop chases, journeys to the top of a giant beanstalk, and even a wild ride on a monster goose. Miller explained how adding the element of 3D helped take the project to a new level.

"3D really lends itself to Puss In Boots’ world," he said. "The story really plays well in that format."

Chris also mentioned how having voice actors like Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek helped breathe more life into the film. Each of them threw in improvised lines that actually made it into the final cut.

"Making this movie was such a collaborative effort," Miller said. "Working with the entire cast. They're all great writers and great improvisers. Having them around makes my job a lot easier."

Another famous collaborator who helped out with Puss was horror director Guillermo del Toro. Listed as an executive producer on the film, Chris told us that he offered quite a bit of input during the story boarding process.

"Guillermo really fell in love with this movie and wanted to be a part of it," he said. "Having him on board was great. It pushed us to make things more fun and more exciting."

But Miller made sure to emphasize that the Puss character is the ultimate selling point of the movie. With his trademark one liners, exaggerated "sad kitty" eyes, and boot kicking dance moves, he's definitely proven himself to be a major leading man (and feline).

"Puss is such a bold and romantic character," he said. "He's larger-than-life and everything kind of springs out of his personality and what Antonio created. One of the things I love about Puss In Boots is how serious he takes himself and how dramatic he can be at times. It brings a great amount of comedy to the character."

You can see Antonio's furry alter ego in action when Puss In Boots arrives this Friday!

Are you planning on watching Puss In Boots? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags 3D, Antonio Banderas, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Chris Miller, Exclusive Entrevistas, Movies & CineMás, Puss In Boots, Salma Hayek, Shrek, Tr3s Exclusives

By Michael Lopez

Could Salma Hayek be plotting a little sibling for her five-year-old daughter Valentina? While promoting her new movie, Puss In Boots, the 45-year-old actress displayed what seemed to be preggo symptoms. But, according to Hayek, it was all just a false alarm brought on by a dizzy spell.

Gossip sites were reporting all kinds of chisme after Salma appeared fatigued during her Puss In Boots interviews. Though she wasn't sporting a baby bump, she did seem a little out of sorts and avoided her usual tight-fitting clothes.

When confronted with questions about baby #2, Hayek shot back with one of her typical sharp-witted responses.

"No sé de donde empezó este comentario," she said. "Espero que no piensen que estoy muy gorda, pero no, no estoy embarazada, no hay planes de embarazo y no sé de dónde vino esto."

We're actually a little bummed to hear Salma isn't planning to expand her brood. Of course, the same can't be said for her fertile hubby, Francios Pinault.

Do you think Salma would make a good second-time mom? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Celebrities, Chisme, popnews, Puss In Boots, Salma Hayek

By Sugey Palomares

Salma Hayek was born to be a movie star, director, and businesswoman, but her favorite role of all is being a wife to François-Henri Pinault and mother to 4-year-old Valentina. The 45-year-old, who has lent her voice as Kitty Softpaws in the upcoming animation "Puss in Boots," graces the cover of Latina's November issue and reveals her true thoughts on career, motherhood, family, and plastic surgery.

In regards to love, Salma reveals:

"I found a man better than any man I could ever in my life imagine existed. He found me, actually. I wasn’t even looking."

About her future she says:

"I'm in a very comfortable position because, [even] if I never worked again and am just a housewife and a mother, I’m happy. I really am. I was born to be a wife and a mother."

On plastic surgery:

"I have no Botox. The thought of a needle coming to my forehead, it really gives me the heebie-jeebies. So I'd rather put on my creams. It's fun, it smells good, and it’s relaxing. Am I opposed to doing it later? I don't know. I want to see how far I can go."

She definitely has enough income to retire tomorrow if she wanted to! It's refreshing to hear her vouch for natural beauty. What do you think?

Tags Chisme, popnews, Salma Hayek

By Michael Lopez

A while back, we told you about the baby daddy drama surrounding Salma Hayek's husband, François-Henri Pinault. Apparently he fathered a child with supermodel Linda Evangelista at the same time that Salma's girl Valentina was being born. And now Evangelista is asking the French businessman to pay her $46,000 a month in child support!

Granted Pinault is a very wealthy man, but $46k a month is steep by anyone's standards. If Linda gets her way, he'll have to fork up over half a million dollars a year. But according to Evangelista, it's hardly wasteful. She says she needs it for around-the-clock nanny care, personal drivers, and vacations.

As of right now, it's up to the New York courts to decide exactly how much of Pinault's cash gets divvied up for his now 4-year-old son. But even the judge seems to think that Linda's demands are a tad exorbitant.

"These are the extraordinary expenses that may be a part of the child's life," he reportedly said during the trial.

Evangelista's lawyers claim that Pinault has paid zero child support thus far and seem confident that they can make a major dent in his pocketbook. Not surprisingly, Salma has continued to pull the "no comment" card on the issue.

Do you think Linda Evangelista is being unfair with her demands? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Celebrities, Chisme, Francois-Henri Pinault, Linda Evangelista, Salma Hayek, Salma Hayek Pinault