2 holiday weekend movies: 'Men in Black III,' 'Moonrise Kingdom'

  

 'Men in Black III'  

Flashing back to 1969, "Men in Black III" has some fun with Andy Warhol's wig, Coney Island hippies and the moon landing, yet can't quite summon a time when this sci-fi comedy franchise felt fresh.

The third in director Barry Sonnenfeld's aliens-among-us series reassembles most of the elements that made 1997's original a charmer.

Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones are back, if a bit bedraggled, as the top-secret government agents battling all variety (mostly gross) of space aliens. FX genius Rick Baker populates the planet with fantastically realized visitors, and the script (credited to Etan Cohen after years of rumored rewrites by committee) taps some of the first installment's snappy cynicism.

The film gets off to an energetic start with the lunar prison escape of one-armed Boris the Animal (Jemaine Clement, the "Flight of the Conchords" funnyman, unrecognizable as a Hells Angels-type villain).

nce free, Boris heads back to 1969, determined to rewrite history by killing Jones' then-rookie Agent K.

Smith's Agent J follows headlong in pursuit, and Sonnenfeld demands we do the same — pondering the film's near-absent internal logic is as pointless as the rules "MIBIII" invents as it goes.

Our payoff is Josh Brolin as the younger, slightly happier version of Agent K. Brolin is a special effect in himself, nailing Jones' gruff mannerisms.

The film is best at its goofiest — a fistfight atop Apollo 11, a free-fall plunge from the Chrysler Building and, loveliest of all, a trip to an empty Shea Stadium, where an ethereal, future-seeing alien (Michael Stuhlbarg, in Elmer Fudd drag) explains all the necessary variables that will contribute to the Miracle Mets' unlikely World Series victory. That's magic.

'Moonrise Kingdom'

Like one of the adolescent misfits in his defiantly quirky "Moonrise Kingdom," director Wes Anderson draws a line and dares detractors to cross it.

Go ahead, cross over. "Moonrise Kingdom" is a gem, an off-kilter fable of first love, awkward kids and Scouting skills.

Adam Jones: 'Leinster are a special team - but we won't fear them'

ADAM Jones insists the Ospreys won't travel to Dublin fearing a side who have been hailed as Europe's greatest ever.

Leinster have been showered with plaudits following their stunning Heineken Cup victory over Ulster at Twickenham last weekend — the third time they have lifted club rugby's Holy Grail in four seasons.

But while Jones acknowledges the remarkable achievements of Brian O'Driscoll and Co, the experienced Wales and Lions tight-head believes the Ospreys won't be overawed by the challenge that awaits in the RaboDirect Pro12 Grand Final tomorrow (4pm).

"They are a very good side, any team that has won three Heineken Cups in the last four years is special," he said.

"I watch these American football documentaries about teams who go on to become dynasties and there is a similarity in that Leinster have done that with the same group of players. It is a fantastic achievement.

"But what is important is that we don't worry about them — if you start out with that mindset you are going to be in trouble.

"Matches with Leinster, like Ireland v Wales games, have tended to be tight affairs.

"We are under no illusions; we are massive underdogs, but we are playing well ourselves and feel we can improve on that display against Munster in the semi-finals a couple of weeks ago."

Looking forward to what promises to be a mouthwatering finale to the domestic season, Jones added: "It should be a great game.

"We are fresh, we have had an extra week to prepare, but they are European champions and they will take confidence from that and the fact they're playing at home.

"We know that it is going to be a physical challenge. We base a lot of our game on our set-piece but the way our backs are playing — their sleight of hand, the passing, the handling — is not something I have seen for quite a few years.

"There are a lot of the boys in the backline who are confident at the moment and going out and playing against players like O'Driscoll, D'Arcy and Sexton won't hold any fear for them. They'll respect them but they won't fear them.

"The big thing for me is to not wonder afterwards how we might have won it.

"We have to go out there and play to our potential and not get hung up about the fact that it is a final."

Leinster's Sean O'Brien, man of the match on last week's Heineken Cup final, misses out with a knee problem, with Shane Jennings named in his place.

All Black World Cup winner Brad Thorn is on the bench alongside highly-rated prop Cian Healy, who must first pass a fitness test on a dead leg.

The Ospreys have named Rhys Webb at scrum-half, with Kahn Fotuali'i on the bench.

Leinster: R. Kearney; F. McFadden, B. O'Driscoll, G. D'Arcy, I. Nacewa; J. Sexton, E. Reddan; H. van der Merwe, S. Cronin, M. Ross, L. Cullen (capt), D. Toner, K. McLaughlin, J. Heaslip, S. Jennings. Reps: R. Strauss, C. Healy or J. McGrath, N. White, B. Thorn, D. Ryan, J. Cooney, I. Madigan, D. Kearney.

Ospreys: R. Fussell; H. Dirksen, A. Bishop, A. Beck, S. Williams; D. Biggar, R. Webb; P. James, R. Hibbard, A. Jones, A. W. Jones (capt), I. Evans, R. Jones, J. Bearman, J. Tipuric. Reps: S. Baldwin, R. Bevington, A. Jarvis, J. King, T. Smith, K. Fotuali'i, M. Morgan, T. Isaacs.

Rolling Thunder 2012 - Motorcycle Rally in Washington, DC

Rolling Thunder is an annual motorcycle rally that is held in Washington, DC during the Memorial Day weekend to call for the government's recognition and protection of Prisoners of War (POWs) and those Missing in Action (MIAs). The tribute to American war heroes started out in 1988 with 2,500 participants. Now approximately 900,000 participants and spectators are involved with this annual demonstration in Washington, DC. Rolling Thunder celebrates its 25th anniversary this year with expanded programming. 

Aishwarya Rai defines Bollywood: British model Scarlett

British model Scarlett Mellish Wilson, who has done item number "Imported Kamariya" in the forthcoming film Shanghai, says she relates the Hindi film industry to Aishwarya Rai. 

"I love her (Aishwarya Rai), she defines Bollywood for me. She is the definition of Bollywood. Her acting, her beauty, she is such an amazing dancer. I think she is the ultimate, I love her," Scarlett told reporters. 

Scarlett Mellish Wilson is also a big fan of Aamir Khan. 

"I like Aamir Khan, I have seen a few of his movies. I saw 'Taare Zameen Par' and I loved that. There's another movie I watched, I can't remember the name," she said adding that she also "loved other Hindi films like 'Housefull' and 'Dostana'." 

Composers Vishal-Shekhar have composed music for "Shanghai" and it hits theatres June 8. The film stars Emraan Hashmi, Kalki Koechlin, Abhay Deoland Bengali superstar Prosenjit Chatterjee.

Fleet Week NYC 2012

NEW YORK (AP) - Naval vessels ranging from a U.S. amphibious assault ship to a Finnish minelayer are participating in New York City's Fleet Week.   

The organization Operation Sail says 17 tall ships from around the world also will be in the city. The large vessels are rigged with traditional sails.  

Military flyovers also are part of the festivities. The U.S. Navy Blue Angels flew above the Hudson River and various landmarks. 

This year's event marks the Bicentennial of the War of 1812.  Military ships from Japan, Canada, Finland and the United Kingdom will be docked around the city. 

The U.S. Navy's lineup includes guided-missile destroyers and the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp.

Another highlight is the Eagle. The three-masted Barque was built in 1936 as a German training ship. It's now used to train cadets at the Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut.

BREAKING NEWS 38 Studios bond sale benefited local lawyers

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- A gaggle of lawyers from Cranston to Los Angeles -- including a former R.I. lieutenant governor -- shared close to $545,650 in payments from the state-backed sale of $75 million in taxable revenue bonds for former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling's collapsed video-game venture, 38 Studios.

The local payments from the 2010 bond sale included $124,790 to Adler Pollock & Sheehan, as legal counsel to the R.I. Economic Development Corporation; $36,990 to Taft & McSally as the state's disclosure counsel; $120,620 to First Southwest Company as financial adviser to the EDC; $190,000 to Moses & Afonso as bond counsel to the EDC; and a $12,250 "partial payment'' to Pannone Lopes Devereaux & West as local counsel to the "placement agent."

The lawyers involved in the bond sale approved by the EDC when Republican Governor Donald Carcieri chaired the board included: former Republican Lt. Governor Bernard Jackvony at Pannone Lopes Devereaux & West, according to recently released EDC documents.

At Taft & McSally, they included Robert Murray, a chief of staff to another former Republican governor, Edward D. DiPrete.

At Adler Pollock, they include the EDC's long-time legal adviser Robert Stolzman, and at Moses & Afonso, lawyers Antonio Afonso Jr. and Paul M. Harley.

Another $58,324 went to Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton in Los Angeles as "special intellectual property counsel'' to the EDC, and $2,500 to Bernstein Shur in Portland, Maine, as counsel to the trustee, according to information provided in recent days by the EDC.

Newly released documents name other law firms involved in the sale of the $75 million bond, but it is not yet clear how much they were paid, by whom, and from which pool of money. They include lawyer Ellen Corneau at Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge as "special counsel'' to the "obligors and guarantors'' who, in this case, include 38 Studios, 38 Studios Baltimore, Mercury Project and a "Special IP Subsidiary.''

Diamond jubilee celebrations soar to record levels

Britain's love of beer, bunting and bank holidays has contributed to a record number of street parties and a dearth of jubilee-free zones next weekend.

Almost 9,500 road closure applications have been granted for neighbourly knees-ups in England and Wales – 4,000 more than for last year's royal wedding.

With tens of thousands of events planned in gardens, parks, pubs and church halls, "the scale of national celebration looks set to be unlike anything we've experienced for decades", says Flick Rea of the Local Government Association.

Trestle table teas, many with a 1950s theme, will spring up across the UK as The Big Lunch initiative, designed to bring communities together, coincides with diamond jubilee festivities.

Funfairs, tea dances, fancy dress picnics and fireworks parties are on the agenda, as are less traditional events of frozen-sausage tossing in Blyth, Northumberland, pingpong-ball racing in Denbighshire, and kilt racing in Perth.

In Banbury, Oxon, organisers are so confident of the numbers expected that Guinness Book of Records inspectors have been invited to join 1,000-plus primary school pupils and their families.

The Berkshire village of Streatley and the Oxfordshire village of Goring will be linked across the Thames by, arguably, the longest jubilee table – actually 450 trestle tables joined together and stretching over a bridge. wSpam canapes could be big in Liverpool, with the local newspaper running party receipes for the canned meat popular at the Coronation. Those at London's Big Jubilee Lunch in Piccadilly, and surrounded by royal warrant holders, will be able to enjoy a champagne and tea bar, Highgrove beef burgers from the so-called "Queen's grocers", Fortnum & Mason, luxury coffee ice-creams and a British hog roast, all while being entertained by The Ritz's resident band.

Hertfordshire is the top street party destination, with 451 applications for road closures, followed by Surrey, with 419. Bristol is the leading city outside London, with 91, and Wandsworth is London's leading borough, with 227. In Manchester, where neighbourhood event organisers were offered grants of up to £200, the city council has received 35 road closure applications, but knows of more than 200 planned celebrations.

Figures were not immediately available for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

With their origin in the 1919 "Peace Teas", held after the signing of the Versailles treaty, street parties have become a fixture of UK national festivities, though less so in Scotland.

Those held in 1935, for George V's silver jubilee, 1937 for George VI's coronation, 1951 for the Festival of Britain, and 1953, for the Queen's coronation, were also seen as a special treat for children in times of hardship.

Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee, saw not street parties as we know them, but grander, staged, sit-down "Diamond Jubilee Feasts" to feed as many of London's poor as possible.

Historians note everyone was invited, no matter how dirty their attire, to dine from a menu including roast rib beef and boiled round of beef, roast quarter lamb, veal and ham pies, pickles, date and oranges, English ale and ginger beer, followed by tobacco and pipes.

Today, our enthusiasm seems not just undimmed, but growing, although not in all quarters. As students at Magdalen College, Oxford, voted to spend £2,200 on cucumber sandwiches, Pimm's, grilled beef, beer and ice-cream at a jubilee garden party, one dissenting JCR member expressed his disgust.

Indian surface-to-air Akash test fired

BALASORE: Surface-to-air missile, Akash, was test fired from Chandipur in Odisha on Saturday. The test was carried out at 11:10 am.

A similar test was carried on Thursday. India had on Thursday test-fired successfully its indigenously-developed surface-to-air Akash missile from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, about 15 km from Balasore.

"The user-specific trial, which formed part of the country's routine air defence exercises, was successful," said a Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) official associated with the Akash missile project.

To re-validate the technology and operational efficacy of the missile, defence forces had conducted the trial with logistic support provided by the ITR, the official said. The Akash weapon system was inducted into the armed forces in 2008.

The missile has a strike range of 25 km with a warhead of 60 kgs.

Akash, an anti-aircraft defence system, can simultaneously engage several targets with Rajendra radar developed by the Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE), a DRDO laboratory in Bangalore.

Rajendra is 'passive phased array radar'. It is multifunction radar, capable of tracking as many as 64 targets and controlling up to 12 missiles simultaneously. Rajendra does the surveillance, tracks the target, acquires it and guides the missile towards it.

The development of Akash missile took place during 1990s under the country's Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) and after many trials, it was inducted into the armed forces. An air-force version of the Akash missile has also been developed by the DRDO.

Defence experts have compared Akash missile system with the American MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile system. They claim that similar to the MIM-104, the Akash is capable of neutralising aerial targets such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), fighter jets, cruise missiles and air-to-surface missiles.

Google+ trends: Towel Day, Britney Spears's first day on 'X Factor USA'

 Google+ users are celebrating “Towel Day” on May 25 in honor ofThe Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy author Douglas Adams.

Plussers are posting funny towel pictures, posting that today is “actually *super*towelday“ because “25 + 5 + 12 = 42,” and telling their followers to Google “the answer to life the universe and everything.”

American singer Britney Spears has just finished her first day on set of X Factor USA.

While some Google+ users are linking to articles that suggest the star walked off set during contestant auditions in Austin, Britney has denied the claims, tweeting, “‪#Britneywalksoff‬??? LOL was just taking a little break people. I am having the BEST time!!!”

Pop star Lady Gaga is also at the top of Google+’s trends as Plussers link to articles about her sold out performance in the Philippines and discuss ongoing controversy over the Asian leg of her Born This Way Ball Tour. Other G+’ers say that Lady Gaga is currently in Thailand, where she has met some of the country’s top “ladyboys.”

The Miami Heat beat the Indiana Pacers 105 to 93 during last night’s match and will go on to play in the NBA Eastern Conference finals, say Google+’ers who followed the game.

Fans of the Japanese pop group AKB48 are still penning open letters to their favorite member on Google+ in the hope of becoming one of six official “fan reporters” who will win a trip to Japan and a personal thank-you video from their favorite group member.