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By Michael Lopez

Can you tell we have a thing for Richard Kelly? The stylish cult film director may have just earned a slot in the Pelis & Popcorn Hall of Fame. This week marks the debut of his second P & P entry and though it may not be as popular as his Donnie Darko masterpiece, Southland Tales is definitely worth a look.

Back in 2006, there was a lot of curiosity built around Tales. This was Kelly's followup 2001's Donnie Darko, leaving a five year gap between films. Unfortunately though, this particular movie didn't quite ignite at the box office. With its post-apocalyptic story and abstract undertones, it became known as an "acquired taste."

But if you're a fan of Richard's twisted view of the world, Southland Tales will not disappoint. Featuring an all-star cast (and some very interesting cameos), it's got memorable performances from Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Seann William Scott (in a dual role!).

Southland also has a ton of familiar faces from years past. There's sitcom star John Larroquette as a shady politician, Revenge of the Nerds’ Curtis Armstrong as the aptly named Dr. Soberin Exx, and even that creepy Poltergeist lady in a brief role. Justin Timberlake pops in too, as the film's narrator.

And as far as the plot goes? Well that's all up for interpretation. Part sci-fi, part comedy, part brooding emo flick, Southland Tales is full of wry commentary. Kelly has mixed in characters from all walks of life. There are porn stars, crooked Senators, and power hungry scientists looking to destroy the fabric of space and time.

Yes Southland Tales can get weird at times, but it's also very intriguing. This is one of those movies we'd recommend recording and re-watching, because there's all kinds of subtleties you may miss the first time out. Plus, it's Halloween weekend. So why not bend your mind a bit with a creepy P & P that's sure to stay in psyche long after the credits roll.

What's your favorite movie to watch on Halloween weekend? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Cult Movies, Donnie Darko, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Justin Timberlake, Movies & CineMás, Pelis and Popcorn, Richard Kelly, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Seann William Scott, Southland Tales, The Rock

By Michael Lopez

With over $600 million in worldwide box office revenue, you can bet that the folks at Universal are ready to juice the Fast Five franchise for everything it's worth. And though we may have to wait a year or two for the sequel, fans can get early treat with the fully-loaded DVD that drops today.

Fast Five dvd

Featuring crisp HD visuals, blaring stereo sound, and a sharp letterbox aspect ratio, the Fast Five DVD recreates everything you loved about car-racing crime drama. But for those looking for a little more, Vin Diesel and company are delivering the goods.

The new Blu-Ray disc features two deleted scenes, a Rock-heavy gag reel, and a feature commentary from director Justin Lin. There are also a ton of behind-the-scenes goodies, like a breakdown of that epic train sequence and interviews with the entire cast.

Perhaps the most interesting bonus from the Fast Five DVD is the "Virtual Garage." Here you can highlight each vehicle used in the film, complete with 360 degree views and under-the-hood exposes. Tyrese makes a special appearance too, with his own Tyrese TV segment that features his home movies from the set.

And c'mon, who couldn't use a little bit more Don Omar and Tego Calderon on their big screen TV? They'll be around too for the special "Reuniting The Team" section. Trust us, Fast Five is an awesome showcase for any living room and it's a great way to keep fans entertained until Michelle Rodriguez hits theaters for Fast Six!

What's your favorite DVD to watch over and over? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Don Omar, DVDs, Fast Five, Hot Stuff, Justin Lin, Movies & CineMás, Tego Calderon, The Rock, Tyrese, Vin Diesel

By Michael Lopez

What can you really say about a movie like Fast Five? It’s obvious if you’re buying a ticket to see it, you’re not expecting any Academy Award worthy performances. But you’ve got to wonder if actors like The Rock could at least “try” to put some heart into their characters. Though sharp dialogue and a cohesive plot are sorely missing from this movie, it definitely delivers in the action department.

And, to be honest, isn’t that what we ultimately expect from a Fast & Furious sequel? It’s obvious that the last four installments are not going to be considered for any Smithsonian motion picture exhibits, but that’s not to say they weren’t entertaining.

Launched back in 2001, the Fast & Furious franchise has gone to gross nearly $500 million in the U.S. alone and has built a massive following overseas. Plus, no one can deny that each installment has given us some very memorable characters.

And that’s ultimately one of Fast Five’s biggest assets. For this movie, director Justin Lin has assembled virtually every major star that appeared in the series. Ludacris and Tyrese Gibson are back from 2 Fast 2 Furious, Sung Kang’s Han character returns from Tokyo Drift, and Tr3s faves Don Omar and Tego Calderón are lighting up the screen again after their memorable stint in part four.

Interestingly, it’s the franchise’s newest character that seems to bring the movie down. Though we’ve definitely loved Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in other flicks, something about his performance in Fast Five just doesn’t click. With his combination of cheesy one-liners, extra tight t-shirts, and implausible detective skills, Johnson’s Luke Hobbs character is laughably bad.

But outside of The Rock, Fast Five does have a lot of things working in its favor. The car racing sequences are amazing (especially the final chase), there is a fun Mission Impossible type subplot, and Vin Diesel gets to throw down in a pretty gnarly fight scene. Plus, its Brazilian setting gives the movie plenty of Latin flava and you can hear our favorite Don Omar track during the credits.

Bottom Line: If you hate plot holes, bad acting, and nonsensical storylines you may want to avoid Fast Five. But, if you can withstand all of that and love seeing sweet rides tear up the roadway, this movie’s for you. Plus, there's a great surprise cameo at the very end!

Are you planning on catching Fast Five this weekend? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Don Omar, Dwayne Johnson, Fast Five, Hot Stuff, Ludacris, Movie Reviews, Movies & CineMás, Tego Calderon, The Fast & The Furious, The Rock, Tyrese Gibson, Vin Diesel

By Sharmaine Jones

The Rock has come back to wrestling!

Wrestling fans got a special treat when Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson made an appearance on Monday Night RAW on Feb. 14. The People's Champ, decked out in all black with the words “I Bring It” spread across his splendid chest, announced to the crowd, “After seven long years, finally The Rock has come back, (queue the long pause) home!”

He then electrified the WWE crowd by announcing that he will host Wrestlemania XXVII on April 3. If you're familiar with the WWE, you know there's always a surprise looming. We're willing to bet that The Rock will also “layeth the smackdown” at Wrestlemania in some capacity, with John Cena on his radar.

WWE Hall of Fame announcer Jim Ross expressed his sentiments on Twitter:

“Dwayne Johnson's classic 'Rock' promo 2nite on RAW was the best thing on RAW in recent memory. Young wrestlers hopefully paid attention.”

Despite being trashed, even Cena was enamored by The Rock's performance:

“CeNation. Rock was in rare form tonight," Cena tweeted. "It was great to see him enjoying himself out there. Even if it was at my expense. I've been called a lot worse. Just glad to see him back in action.”

We couldn't agree more. Just knowing The Rock will be there already makes Wrestlemania XXVII more interesting. Can you smell it?

Are you excited for The Rock's return to wrestling? Tell us in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Dwayne Johnson, John Cena, Raw, The Rock, Wrestlemania XXVII, Wrestling

We know, we know... all of the chiquitas are enamoradas de Yandel right now. We agree that this W&Y reggaetonero is pretty hot. Or maybe, just pretty. Don't you think that a guy with neater brows than most chicas is a bit questionable? At the risk of sounding like Jerry Seinfeld, What...is the deal...with that super-brow?

Yandel's creepy ceja is a prime attraction in every red carpet shot, press image and music video. It's always lookin' back at us -- pensive and all-knowing. We think the perfectly waxed brow (see photo above; it's no coincidence that the skin surrounding his brow is irritated) could be the source of Yandel's musical powers. Or, perhaps he's just related to other big brows like:

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

More cejas after the jump!

Read more...

Tags Dawyne Johnson, George Whipple, Martin Scorsese, The Rock, Wisin y Yandel