day 3.125

movie review: are you ready to scream?

ten years later and it still holds up. wes craven and co's comeback did not disappoint- in fact, i want to run back to the theater and watch it again. picking up 10 years after the events of scream 3 (when we thought it was all over, right?), scream 4 follows sidney (neve campbell) back to her hometown of woodsboro on a book tour ... on the anniversary of the original massacres. but did anyone expect sid's first visit back home in 10 years to be drama free? in the past decade, 7 stab movies were made - the movies-within-the-movies based on sidney's life - and have become cult classics. dewey and gale (david arquette and coutney cox, in an awkward-to-watch on screen relationship) have gotten married - dewey's now the town's sheriff and gale's given up the journalistic dream for love. and the town's teen population's become obsessed with the stab franchise- they're all glad woodsboro's known for something. so when someone starts recreating the original murders, it's a game of "guess who" that's pretty tricky to figure out. like they say in the trailer, all the rules have changed. scream 4 keeps you on the edge of your seat for two hours - you think you know what's coming, but, trust me, you won't figure it out until the sequel's shocking reveal. the best part is watching the original three survivors (sid, dewey and gale) work together again to uncover the mystery they just can't seem to escape. with great references and allusions to the original trilogy, plus breakout performances by emma roberts and (a surprisingly likable) hayden panetierre, scream 4 is a must see for any fan - whether you've seen all three originals, just one or just want a good scare/laugh fest. you'll leave the theater wanting more, which is good for the filmmakers, because they've apparently mapped out two more movies.

day 239

blippity blurbs

there's not really a story worth writing today, so let's play catch-up. is that okay? no? too bad. okay, first up, mariah carey's latest singe - "obsessed" - has been released in music video form. well, kind of. the video will technically premiere tonight during nbc's america's got talent, which mariah's husband, nick cannon, just happens to host. hmm, i wonder how they worked out this whole premiere deal? if you just can't wait (which, i don't know why you couldn't - the video isn't all that great), then click here to check out the "early premiere." the video was accidentally published on yahoo music earlier today and someone was smart enough to video capture it ... as we head back into the start of awards season - i know, it feels like we just finished, right? - hosts are slowly being announced. neil patrick harris was officially confirmed yesterday as the host for this year's primetime emmys as was speculated last week. joining him as an emmy host will be kathy griffin. the d-list star has been tapped to host what she calls the "schmemmys," otherwise known as the creative arts primetime emmys, where all the behind the scenes work and some lesser awards - like guest actor and actress and best reality show (which griffin has won for the past 2 years) - are handed out. this is the first time an emmy winner has hosted the creative arts ceremony ... mtv has tapped comedian russell brand to helm the video music awards for the second year in a row. the british star gained record ratings for the show last year, which included britney spear's return from crazy land and a performance by the jobros, which led to a big virgin joke controversy involving brand, jorin sparks, as well as the brothers jonas. the show will move back to its home in new york this year - after moving to the paramount lot in california last year and the palms the year before - to radio city music hall. the only confirmed performer thus far is taylor swift, who will be doing a "never before heard" rendition of her new hit "you belong with me." that should be good - swift always brings it. i'll be interested to see how brand does this year; he wasn't my favorite last year. but, his scatterbrained style is probably the most appropriate for the add audience of today ... with scream 4's script being drafted right now, the cast list is starting to add up. the first two cast members to be confirmed for the project are husband and wife team david and courntey cox arquette. the couple met on the set of the first movie and will reprise their roles of deputy dewey and gale weathers, respectively. the announcement was made today on nbc's todat show by david, who added he is hoping that series star neve campbell will come back for the fourth go around. this move could either be great or horrible - it's been long enough that a new audience is there for the franchise, but if they don't show up, will the old fans? ... and a bromance is officially dead. okay, maybe not dead, but not quite as close as it used to be. mostly because the duo of ed westwick and chace crawford have decided to part realty ways, with chace moving out of the buds' shared apartment in new york.