Game review: Star Trek

he 2009 Star Trek movie reboot might have elevated the status of the sci-fi franchise which is more than four decades old. But as far as video games go, this one ends up in the same place that all previous Star Trek games have gone before - aimless and adrift. Set after the reboot and before the upcoming sequel, Star Trek Into Darkness, this game starts its journey in the right direction by having the young cast of the new film lend it their looks and voices. For long-time fans able to overlook the change of cast to Chris Pine as Captain James T. Kirk, Zachary Quinto as Spock and Karl Urban as Dr Leonard McCoy, that strong connection to the movie is enjoyed by few game adaptations. But faster than you can say "warp speed", the game comes to a grinding halt the moment you fire your first phaser. Instead of playing on the strengths of the crew, players get to control only Spock and Kirk. As Kirk, gamers get to be all gung-ho and charge into any battle. While the Vulcan Spock tends to be more discreet, there is little difference in gameplay. Otherwise, players have to cooperate to force open doors and flank the enemies in some battles, because, apparently, that is what the heroes of Star Trek are good at and the developers really want players to experience it. Throw in some puzzles to solve, materials to scan using Star Trek equipment and some space combat involving the Enterprise, and players should be in for a treat. Yet, everything seems muddled, as there is no focus on what each action is supposed to do for players, other than having it added into the game as some sort of lame fan service. But the biggest let-down here is with the Gorn, a reptilian alien race that made only one appearance in the main Star Trek universe on TV. The developers could have turned the hulking lizards into a real threat against the Vulcan colony in the game and put their unique stamp on a fan-favourite aspect. Instead, very little seems to have been spent on the Gorn. The poor graphics make them look even less scary than Yoshi the dinosaur from the Mario franchise and almost as dangerous as the furry Tribbles. Despite having been announced almost two years ago, this game felt as if it was released in a rush. For Star Trek fans, there is some enjoyment in listening to the cast try their best to elevate a boring script, and, yes, there are some good visuals of the Enterprise.

News source: www.asiaone.com

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Alicia Keys not sure about replacing Randy Jackson on 'Idol'

NEW YORK, May 11 (UPI) -- U.S. singer Alicia Keys said she's sad to hear of Randy Jackson's departure as a judge from "American Idol," but she doesn't know if she'd want to replace him. Jackson announced his departure Thursday on the same day Keys performed her new single "Tears Always Win" on the show. "I don't know if I'd want to be a judge," she said after her performance, quoted by People magazine. "That's so sad," Keys said of Jackson's move. "I think he's amazing. I've really loved him for lots of years." Current and former "American Idol" contestants echoed Keys' sentiment. Season 10 runner-up Lauren Alaina said his departure is "kind of a bummer." "He's been there since the beginning, and now none of the judges are going to be the same," she said. Season 12 finalists Kree Harrison and Candice Glover will go head-to-head in next week's two-part finale for Jackson's last episodes. "I feel honored," Harrison said of being part of Jackson's last episode. "Randy has always been so nice and humble. He always comes up after the show and gives us constructive criticism." Glover said he should reconsider his decision. "I definitely don't think any season after this is ever going to be the same without 'Yo Dawg,' " she said. Read more:

news source: www.upi.com

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Britney Spears Flaunts Vegas-Ready Bikini Body

Britney Spears is headed to Las Vegas as a headliner this fall and already looks ready to squeeze into the skimpiest of costumes. "Britney at her best! 31, firm & fabulous," reads the cover of Shape magazine featuring a slimmed-down Brit in a tiny white Deja Soleil Swimwear bikini. "She's so inspiring to be in that great of shape after having two kids," says Deja Berkham, designer and owner of the line. "All Deja Soleil suits are designed to play up a woman's delicate curves and still be durable enough for the most active of women – much like Britney." Stay in the know about Britney Spears by subscribing now. The pop star is expected to start rehearsals in late September or early October for a run of Sin City shows at Planet Hollywood that could begin around November, the Las Vegas Sun reports. And for those wondering whether Spears got her Shape shape more from Photoshop than diet and the gym, take a look at this picture from a few weeks ago: Spears lounging in Malibu in a barely there bikini.

News source: www.people.com

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Ian Somerhalder and Nina Dobrev Split

Love bites. Vampire Diaries costars Ian Somerhalder and Nina Dobrev have called it quits after dating for several years, PEOPLE has confirmed. The couple were last seen taking a late-night trip to a cat hospital together last month, with no sign then that their own relationship may have been hurting. Somerhalder, 34, and Dobrev, 24, kept their romance secret during their early days as a couple, despite evidence that they were together. Get more stories on your favorite celebrities by subscribing now. "I didn't want to be dating one of my costars," Dobrev told Seventeen last fall. "My goal on the show was to be professional. But sometimes you can't help who you have a connection with, and you can only fight it for so long – which I did for a really, really long time."

 News source:www.people.com

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TICKER: Neil Patrick Harris, Tim Lambesis, Manti Te'o's fake girlfriend, Miley Cyrus

Neil Patrick Harris will be back as host of the Tony Awards, the fourth time for the quadriple-threat -- acting, dancing, singing, charming -- host. The 67th annual awards ceremony honoring the best of Broadway returns to Radio City Music Hall and will again be televised live by CBS. Harris was host of the 63rd, 65th and 66th Tony Awards. As he did in 2012, He also will act as a producer, along with executive producers Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss, who returns as director for the 14th consecutive year. "I'm very excited to be back hosting the Tony Awards at the legendary Radio City Music Hall [after New York's Beacon Theater]. It'll be more impressive than ever -- if my math is correct, it will be 267 times bigger than last year," NPH said. "Oh, wait. No, that can't ??? hold on ??? carry the one ... I'm awful at math. But rest assured, the show will rock!" Harris, an Emmy-nominated regular on CBS's "How I Met Your Mother," is a three-time Emmy winner for his guest-starring role on "Glee" and as host of the 2009 and 2011 Tonys. As fans and investigators try to figure out the motive behind the alleged murder-for-hire scheme hatched by As I Lay Dying's Tim Lambesis, the details of the singer's divorce offer few clues, MTV.com reported. Grammy-nominated Lambesis, 32, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with three federal counts, including one of solicitation to commit murder and two of conspiracy to commit crime after he reportedly tried to hire an undercover detective he believed was a hit man. The September 2012 divorce documents indicate that Lambesis' split from his estranged wife, Meggan, was amicable, according to the Associated Press. In the divorce papers, Meggan Lambesis said the singer had become "obsessed with bodybuilding" before their divorce and was often distracted by talking or texting on his phone when he spent time with their three adopted children. Lambesis' obsession with working out appeared to have inspired a second official Twitter account, @gymlambesis, on which he frequently commented on his band's activities as well as his changing appearance. Lambesis, who is being held without bail, was scheduled to be arraigned Thursday. Remember Notre Dame football player Manti Te'o's fake girlfriend? She's back, and apparently (or should that be transparently?) she's hot. As proof that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, Maxim's Hot 100 list includes the imaginary woman known as Lennay Kekua. She comes in at number 69 -- beating out celebrities such as Jessica Chastain, Emma Roberts and Zooey Deschanel, Mashable.com points out. Miley Cyrus was the magazine's top pick. Maxim's bio said, after Manti Te'o's fake girlfriend hoax of 2012, we think it might be nice to have an invisible girl of our own to love. Why not? She's got a ton of great qualities, including looking awesome in a bikini." Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/ae/celebrities/ticker-neil-patrick-harris-tim-lambesis-manti-teos-fake-girlfriend-miley-cyrus-

 News source: www.post-gazette.com

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American Idol' Recap: a Shocking Elimination Brings Tears and Heartbreak

Ryan Seacrest, master of suspense, stretched out the announcement of the final two in the last 15 minutes of Thursday's results show, reducing the trio of talented sing-testants -- each deserving of the Idol title -- into quivering nervous wrecks. The first name announced: Candice! Because, duh. Because, that voice. BECAUSE I SAID SO. Then Seacrest cut to commercial break, further torturing Angie and Kree, who huddled together in anticipation as Seacrest milked the big reveal. When he said "Kree," a ripple of OMG OMG OMG's swept across the Idol-verse. Somewhere, distraught Angie fans captured video of themselves sobbing hysterically to post on YouTube and Adam Lambert, a supporter of the ballad-loving finalist, put down the guyliner and lit a candle to mourn the early exit of his soon-to-be duet partner. Kree's jaw dropped with legitimate shock, and instead of celebrating her victory, the maternal country singer comforted Angie as she struggled to keep it together while closing the show with Colton Dixon's "Never Gone." "Sorry," Angie told the studio audience, forcing a smile through her tears. In a genuinely touching moment (even for this Idol cynic), her family jumped up onstage to support the 19-year-old Massachusetts native; Kree and Candice, both crying, embraced Angie in a group hug. After a standing ovation, the judges stepped up to offer condolences. STORY: Randy Jackson Exits 'American Idol' The mood: funereal. But life goes on -- and, given her dynamic musical chops and successful run on Idol, so will Angie's recording career. Also, ask Adam Lambert and Colton Dixon and Jennifer Hudson and Chris Daughtry: Winning isn't everything. Sometimes it's better to lose (less expectations) and most runners-up earn some kind of record deal along with the insta-fame that comes with being on the teevee. The post-season summer tour is another chance for Angie to try out some new original material that could get traction and gain popularity. Although her bubbly personality and passionate performances won raves from the judges' panel and viewers at home -- creating an assumption that she was a shoo-in for the finals -- footage of Angie's hometown visit on Wednesday was nothing compared to the emotional gut-punch of Kree returning to her native Texas and the home where she grew up. Both of her parents died when she was a girl, an unthinkable loss and revelation that humanized the subdued 22-year-old and highlighted her best character traits: grace, compassion and professionalism in the face of adversity -- whether it be childhood trauma or a high-pressure reality singing competition. "I don’t think people realize how much strength you have to have to be this young and have no parents. You sang it like a pro," said Nicki Minaj following Kree's rendition of "Here Comes Goodbye" by Rascal Flatts. Mentor Jimmy Iovine concurred on Thursday, saying: "Kree had the perfect combination of home story and song. It was so emotional and it killed me, and therefore I gave her that round." Next week's Candice-Kree match-up seems fairly even: Candice has the voice, but Kree has the backstory. It's a toss-up, IMHO, which means they'll need to be smart with song choices. NO BURT BACHARACH PLEASE. PHOTOS: 'American Idol' Season 12: Hometown Visits Moving on: Hours ago, Randy Jackson announced his resignation after 12 seasons as a judge. Eye rolls aside, I'm gonna miss Randy. Despite all his redundant gibberish ("for you for me for you," "yo dawg," etc), he is a familiar presence and reminder of the good old days when he was the laid-back buffer between iron-fisted Simon Cowell and high-strung Paula Abdul. "Maybe a heads up?" said Seacrest, ribbing Jackson on his impending departure. Also on this latest episode of The Hunger Games American Idol, a sound system failure during the finalists' performance of Selena Gomez's "Who Says?" rendered the mics useless and the voices mute. (That's probably a good thing, though, since that D-list track is treacly and boring, much like an Idol coronation song!) Idol alumna Lauren Alaina performed her single "Barefoot and Buckwild," and I can't say anything bad about her because she is LIKE SO NICE, and Alicia Keys tickled the ivories on "Tears Always Win" from her Girl on Fire album (which is great to Swiffer to, by the way). One of the highlights of the night: the premiere of the cheese-tastic music video for "Beautiful," Mariah Carey's new single with Miguel. Writhing and preening atop a motorcycle, Mariah showed lots of skin and lots of leg in a bold, barely-there ensemble that not even Amanda Bynes would leave the house wearing. Mariah: the new Madonna? Other pertinent questions, Idol Worshippers: how do you feel about Angie's departure? Who are you rooting for: Candice or Kree? And what, if anything, will you miss most about Randy?

 News source:rewired.hollywoodreporter.com

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The Great Gatsby's Box Office Could Be Greater Than You Think

The lavish Leonardo DiCaprio 3-D drama, already accused in more than one headline of being a "flop," is on track for an opening-weekend debut north of $40 million, the latest projections say. A debut of that size almost assuredly won't be enough to dethrone the massively popular Iron Man 3, which even if it were to drop like a big metal rock should still come up with at least $52.5 million (and, should it prove resilient like The Avengers, maybe as much as $87.5 million). NEWS: Iron Man 3 scores second-biggest opening weekend of all-time Still, a $40 million-esque weekend for Gatsby would mark a career best for director Baz Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge) and rank the film up there with Shutter Island on DiCaprio's list. More key, it would avoid the box-office disaster some (or some headlines, at least) seem to be bracing for. "The Great Gatsby needs to open with at least $35 million," Exhibitor Relations box-office analyst Jeff Bock said in an email, "which it should be able to achieve if it connects with women and younger audiences." The Great Gatsby, once slated for a Christmas release, is a summer anomaly; it's based not on a superhero comic book but on F. Scott Fitzgerald's famous 1925 novel of jazz-age infidelity. NEWS: DiCaprio "reluctant" to step into Gatsby's shoes In a Wall Street analysis of the summer movie slate that was widely reported by the Hollywood trade press last week, Cowen and Co. analyst Doug Creutz wrote that Gatsby's very distinctness would make it one of the season's 12 biggest hits of the season, and predicted the film would hit $150 million domestically. (No spare art-house drama, Bock said the $125 million-plus film will to need clear about $300 million worldwide to considered a box-office success.) But the run-up to Gatsby's release—the movie arrives as early as tonight at some theaters—has been less about bullish projections and more about disappointing reviews. At last look, its RottenTomatoes score was at 47 percent (and climbing, for what it's worth); the Atlantic Wire compiled a list of blurbs the movie would never want blurbed.

 News source:www.eonline.com

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