Blog Posts by Meriah Doty

  • Willy Wonk-Off: Johnny Depp Vs. Gene Wilder (and Their Dueling Birthdays)

    Johnny Depp and Gene Wilder, Willy WonkaBirthday Battle of the Wonkas: Johnny Depp, left, takes on Gene Wilder (Photo: Everett)
    They have both played eccentric chocolate magnate Willy Wonka, but that's not the only thing Johnny Depp and Gene Wilder have in common. The two actors happen to be celebrating milestone birthdays this week: Depp is now 50 years old, and Gene Wilder turns 80 on Tuesday.

    What does that mean?

    It's time for a Willy Wonk-Off! (And get your mind out of the gutter – we didn't mean it that way.)

    Both based on the 1964 children's book by Roald Dahl, Wilder starred in the more musical "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" in 1971, and Depp played Wonka in the 2005 Tim Burton confection, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."

    See how these two wacky Wonkas stack up:


    Likability

    Many critics – and even Wilder himself – grumbled when Johnny Depp took on the role of Willy Wonka. Depp's depiction was decidedly detached and strangely boyish – disturbingly reminiscent of the late Michael Jackson. Wilder's Wonka exuded confidence. His was a larger-than-life madcap portrayal. And while Wilder's character would keep unruly kids in

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  • Exclusive: Liam Hemsworth Was 'Nervous' Around Harrison Ford and Gary Oldman on 'Paranoia' Set

  • 5 Awesome Jennifer Aniston GIFs From 'Leprechaun' (Because a Reboot Is Happening!)

    We know you've been waiting for the day to arrive ... when comedy-horror film "Leprechaun" finally makes its comeback.

    The original 1993 film stars not only Warwick Davis ("Return of the Jedi," "Labyrinth," "Willow") as the evil, little, tickling Leprechaun, but also budding actress Jennifer Aniston — before her "Friends" run — as a snobby, guy-crazy young woman who finds herself way out of her element in rural South Dakota. (See her freak out, above, as little 'ol Leprey magically appears.)

    The film spawned five sequels including 1997's "Leprechaun 4: In Space" and 2000's "Leprechaun: In the Hood," starring Ice-T (who at one point draws a baseball bat from his Afro to beat down the little critter).

    It's been ten years too long since we've last seen Mr. Leprechaun on film — at least according to the filmmakers planning a franchise reboot. Lionsgate and WWE studios have teamed up to make a new (and improved?) "Leprechaun" and have their leading wee man cast: none other than WWE "cruiser

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  • 'Fast & Furious 6' New Mega-Villain Unveiled in Post-Credit Tease (Spoiler Alert!)

    Dwayne Johnson, Vin Diesel, Paul Walker Hobbs, Toretto, and O'Conner better watch their backs in 'Fast 7'! (Photo: Universal)The massively popular "Fast & Furious" series has amassed more than $1.5 billion to date, and shows no sign of slowing down. Lately, the trick to keeping the track roaring has been adding teasers just after the credits start, hinting at the thrills ahead.

    In “Fast 6” that tradition continues with one very big reveal.

    SPOILER ALERT!

    If you follow the series you know the third installment, "Tokyo Drift" takes place after "Fast" 4, 5, and 6. Why do we know this? For one, Han (Sung Kang), who died in the third "Fast," is alive in the latter three installments.

    [Related: How Marvel Breaks New Ground with 'Iron Man 3' Post-credits Scene]

    After the credits roll in "Fast 6," we see Han die all over again. Same race in

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  • 'Fast & Furious 6' Girl Fight: Most Intense Ever?

    Gina Carano and Michelle Rodriguez in 'Fast & Furious 6'Gina Carano and Michelle Rodriguez lay down the girl fight gauntlet in 'Fast 6' (Photo: Universal Pictures)To date, when it comes to the most intense girl-on-girl fighting in film, actresses like Uma Thurman (both "Kill Bill" movies), Pam Grier ('70s films "The Big Doll House" and "Foxy Brown"), and Sigourney Weaver (who battled the queen bee extraterrestrial in 1986's "Aliens") come to mind.

    Michelle Rodriguez and Gina Carano have taken their big-screen girl fight to a whole new level in "Fast & Furious 6." Their two fighting scenes in the upcoming action franchise flick are lengthy and their moves are severe, to say the least arguably the most extreme woman-versus-woman hand-to-hand combat in movie history.

    "That was the goal," Rodriguez told Yahoo! Movies of her record-seeking performance. She and Carano take up a whole lot of screen time in two dynamic fight scenes in "Fast 6." No weapons are used, as the two rely mostly on their fists Carano does a few roundhouse kicks, too.

    Watch the 'Fast 6' Cast Talk Historic Girl Fights:

    The idea to throw down the girl fight gauntlet came from "Fast 6" director Justin Lin. "Let's go for the best in history," he recalled telling

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  • 5 Reasons Cannes Is Going Way Wrong

    Rain at Cannes (Photo: Venturelli/WireImage)The first sign things weren't going right at the Cannes Film Festival in France this year – a high-dollar jewelry heist.

    From then on, the annual French Riviera fete that usually oozes glamour, riches, bikinis, and (oh yeah) cinema, has endured a growing list of unprecedented and even shocking setbacks.

    Guns have been drawn, dresses drenched, and body parts have been exposed.

    Those aren't shadows on Julianne Moore's dress, they're wet spots. Fan Bingbing, left (FilmMagic/Getty)

    5. Horrible Weather

    Stars have been taking shelter and hiding under umbrellas during what's usually a lot of high-end fun in the sun. "The Great Gatsby" seemed to catch the brunt of the gray, wet weather as Leonardo DiCaprio,

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  • Benedict Cumberbatch and Top Fan Frown on 'Cumberb----es'

    Benedict CumberbatchBenedict Cumberbatch poses with fans at the UK Premiere of 'Star Trek Into Darkness' (Photo: Getty)
    You may be aware that "Star Trek Into Darkness" antihero Benedict Cumberbatch has a growing legion of fans. What you may not know is his devotees are distinctly fragmented between self-respecting Cumberfans and a group that has labeled themselves "Cumberb----es."

    The latter group has a relatively popular Twitter account on which they have been defending their name following recent controversy.

    Cumberbatch himself has recently piped up about the Cumber-"B"-word faction after having made light of their existence to other press outlets (including our own).

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  • 5 Super Stealthy Facts About 'Star Trek' Baddie Benedict Cumberbatch

    Benedict CumberbatchGuess which one is Benedict Cumberbatch's natural hair color (Photo: WireImage)He has successfully stolen the spotlight from his ensemble cast mates and blushingly touts his growing fan base of so-called Cumberpeople.

    With the enormous amount of buzz that has been bestowed upon the star villain in "Star Trek Into Darkness," along with a four more films coming out this year, Benedict Cumberbatch is truly the man of the moment.

    The 36-year-old actor first grabbed the attention of "Star Trek" reboot director J.J. Abrams as the leading man on the hit BBC show "Sherlock." And while he seems relatively fresh on the scene in the U.S., Cumberbatch has been entertaining British audiences since he was a boy in London performing Shakespeare plays in school.

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  • Tyrese and Ludacris Get 'Ballsy,' Reveal Deodorant Secret

    Tyrese in 'Fast & Furious 6'Will Tyrese survive this 'Fast & Furious 6' leap? All Ludacris cares about is his deodorant. (Universal)

    During a recent television press day in London for the upcoming action-packed (and then some) "Fast & Furious 6," Tyrese Gibson and Ludacris got, well, pretty ludicrous.

    Warning: Male anatomy humor ensues...

    We don't really know whether both men actually use Secret brand deodorant strong enough for a man but made for a woman

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  • The Totally ’80s Parents of the ‘Star Trek Into Darkness’ Crew

    Alice Eve and Chris Pine in 'Star Trek Into Darkness'Alice Eve and Chris Pine in 'Star Trek Into Darkness' (Photo: Paramount Pictures)If you're letting 1982's "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" be your guide to "Star Trek Into Darkness," you may be anticipating some hanky-panky between Dr. Carol Marcus (Alice Eve) and Captain Kirk (Chris Pine). Eve appears in her skivvies, after all.

    Aside from Pine and Eve's shared – and sordid – character history from "Star Trek" antiquity, they have another thing in common: Both have parents who were, like, totally recognizable actors from '80s television.

    Robert Pine in 'CHiPs' Robert Pine in a 'CHiPs' publicity photo (Photo: Everett Collection)Robert Pine played Sgt. Joseph Getraer in NBC's long-running cop drama "CHiPs." And on the other side of the pond in Britain, Sharon Maughan (Eve's mum) was the star of a popular '80s coffee commercial that eventually made its way to the U.S.

    Chris Pine's dad played the sergeant in charge of the California Highway Patrol's Central Los Angeles Division from 1977 to 1983. On "CHiPs," Sgt. Getraer stuck close to the police station, but would go out on patrol every once in a while. At one point in the series, Robert Pine's character was

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